Week 4 Challenge - It's Time To Step Up

This weeks challenge is step ups - a whopping 1000 of them! My legs are really going to be falling off by the end!

• Mon 2/12: -
• Tues 3/12: 120 each leg after shockwave on a tall box
• Wed 4/12: 180 each leg while watching tv on my small upside down bucket
• Thu 5/12: 100 each leg after bball
• Fri 6/12: 100 each leg after fitness test

Total: 1000

Done: 1000

Left: 0

Phew I did it!  

Week 3 Challenge - Stick To My Plan

So this weeks challenge is to try a new food. I don't think I need to do that as I eat pretty much everything and have no issues with trying new foods (my issue is more around not eating too much food!). I've decided that instead I am going to stick to my plan until we go away on Friday.

My plan is below. Each day I will come update what I actually ate and did and compare. If I do have to change plans, it's ok ONLY if there is a very good reason, and I have an understanding of the calories I'm changing to and they fit into the total calories for the day!

Monday
Breakfast: 8am Oats, berries, yoghurt and milk = 220cals
Snack: 11am Decaf skim Flat White = 70cals
Lunch: 12:30pm chicken salad = 300cals?? (didn't weigh anything so total guesstimate)
Snack: 3pm celery & cottage cheese = 120cals
Dinner: Spinach & 2 cheese omelette = 320cals? (different to plan as Greg went out so made just for me, also may have been a 3 cheese omelette as there was blue cheese in the fridge I couldn't pass up...)
Total Cals: 1030cals
Exercise: 1:20pm Fitness Fat Burner & Abs @ Darlinghurst Gym

Tuesday
Breakfast: 9am Oats, berries, yoghurt and milk = 199cals
Snack: 10:30am: Ricotta & vegemite wrap = 141cals
Lunch: 12:30pm Left over Spinach & 2 cheese omelette = 300cals? (didn't have the bread so maybe even less)
Snack: 2:30pm Carrots, cucumber & Feta = 119cals
Dinner: 7pm Greek Lamb Salad = 304cals
Extras: 7pm Stole some left over potato and blue cheese salad out of the fridge while I was making dinner then again when I did the dishes... = 200cals?
Total Cals: 1263cals - only just over in spite of the potato salad :)
Exercise: 7am: Shockwave

Wednesday
Breakfast: 9am Oats, berries, yoghurt and milk = 199cals
Snack: 10:30am Potato & blue cheese salad = 200cals?
Lunch: 12pm Greek Salad (1/2 serve) = 150cals
Snack: 3pm Greek Salad (1/2 serve) = 150cals
Dinner: 7:30pm Creamy Parmesan Polenta w Balsamic Roasted Veges = 287cals
Total Cals: 986cals
Exercise: 1pm: Fitness Fat Burner at Darlinghurst

So... I forgot to fill this in for the rest of the week, but I did awesomely! Was feeling so happy and proud of myself on Friday, especially when I weighed in at under 80kgs for the first time in forever! Now need to keep it up!

Week 2 challenge - 300 pushups

So, this week's challenge is 300 pushups, which is great as after the SSS I decided that pushups is definitely an exercise I want to improve. I'm going to attemtp to do them all on my toes. Will see how I go as last round I did all the pushups on my knees...

• Mon 11pm: 50 on my toes, mostly in sets of 10 (phew, almost forgot to do them!)
• Tues 7:45am: 50 after Shockwave, again in sets of 10 - exhausted
• Wed 7:30am: 50 after my run, first set 15, then 10s
• Thurs 7am: 50
• Fri 7:30am: 50 after toning workout
• Sat 11am: 50 after SSS

Total: 300

Done: 300

Left: 000

Yay! I did it and all on my toes too. Pretty happy I got it done. Arms were a bit sore but mostly just felt good and strong. Was a challenge to do the last 50 after SSS!

Week 1 Challenge - Inspiration Board

I love this challenge. It got me really motivated last round, and so this round I went and found all new images and made a new one and sure enough felt ready for anything! It's on both my home and work computer desktop backgrounds, on my phone lock screen and printed on the fridge.

Week Nine Challenge: Burpees!

I hate burpees! And this week's challenge is 800! When I first read that I thought it would be totally undoable. However this morning I managed 150, and that was after Shockwave! And so I have decided I can do this after all!

• Tue 8 Oct 7:45am: 150! In sets of 10 with last 20 together after shockwave
• Wed 9 Oct 7:30am: 150 in sets of 10 with last 20 together after run
• Thu 10 Oct 12:30pm: 180! In sets of 10 before body balance. Was only going to do 150 but finished too early before class so did more. That puts me over the half way mark :D
• Fri 11 Oct 7:30am: 50 in sets of 10 after Insane Bolt SSS

Done: 530

Left: 270

Pay Offs & Costs

One of this week's videos was around payoffs and costs. Michelle asked us 5 questions and asked us to honestly answer them. Then she talked through them. Quite amazing - all common sense, but never really consciously thought it through in quite this way...

1. What is my goal - why did I join?
To lose weight
To look good in a bikini over xmas
To look good standing next to my family
To feel better about myself
To prove I can
To be a fitter and better me
To be able to snowboard in powder snow in Japan next year
To prepare for having babies

2. What is the payoff for me if I achieve my goals?
Look good
Go shopping and fit into clothes
Feel amazing
Be a better and fitter me
Should be easier to get pregnant
Enjoy my life more

3. What is the cost to me in order to achieve my goals?
Say No
Eat responsibly and regularly
Less going out for dinner
Less drinking
Eat smaller portions
Not able to enjoy stuff with Greg and my friends as so much of it is focussed around food
Can't go away to luxury places as don't want the temptation
Get up early to exercise

4. What is my payoff if I don't strive for my goal?
Can eat anything whenever
Can drink whenever
Can go out lots
Can sleep in

5. What is my cost if I don't achieve my goal?
Feel fat and gross
Bad health
Always tired and sluggish
Feeling unhappy with my size
Always feeling like the biggest
Not fit and happy for my family
Early death

Which answers am I most fearful of? Consider questions 3 & 5... These scare me the most!
Costs for #3 are a lot less than #5 - all short term and little nos or decisions
Doing those things in the #3 costs are the "right" way anyway - will help us save money and feel so much better. #5 costs are CRAP!

Consider questions 2 & 4
Payoffs in #2 are SO MUCH BETTER! In #4 they are all short term benefits or fixes that will make me feel good in the short term - inner teen wants! #2 payoff are amazing and are for life!

Imagine how much my life will change when I achieve my goal! I can imagine the lottery - achieving my goal is so much more likely than that!

Consider the short term payoffs (#4) vs the long term costs (#5) - having a treat or going out for dinner, with the cost being feeling fat and gross forever and even early death? Not worth it! However, the short term costs (#3) against the long term payoffs (#2)? Absolutely worth it!

Saying no to the little things in the moment = achieving my goal and being amazing forever!

Week Seven Challenge - Celebrate the Positives

This week's challenge is to celebrate the good things in my life. Each day we're to identify and tell someone the worst thing and the best thing that happened each day. I think I will do this with Greg over dinner each night. Will give us another reason to sit at the dining table for dinner, and also spark more and different conversations. I'm looking forward to it!

Thought I might update during the week.

Mon 23 Sept
Today's worst is...
Having to get up and go to work :( I hate Mondays!

Today's best is...
Having lunch in the park - what a beautiful day!

Tues 24 Sept
Today's worst is...
An email from a guy at work I received this morning where I think he's trying to do some of the stuff I want to do. Feel a bit like he wants to take over. Bit frustrating not really knowing exactly what my role is.

And today's best is...
Well, I couldn't exactly decide on one as today was a good day and there are a number of contenders:

1. Getting up and going to Shockwave this morning - could be a worst too as was so hard, but so glad I went!
2. Buying a new sports bra - I've needed one for ages, and I'm actually looking forward to running in it this morning
3. Change over of sprint at work - busy day, but ran enjoyable and I think successful planning meetings

Week Six Challenge - Drop & Give Me 300

This week's challenge is 300 push ups. Am starting a little late considering it's already Tuesday evening, so will need to stay focused to get this done by the end of the week. Minimum 50 per day! Also going to be a bit harder than the wall sits and as I don't fancy doing these in the work bathroom...

Decided I will split these into normal and triceps push ups as triceps is one area I want to focus on, and not so much chest.

• 17/9 6pm: 25 normal + 25 triceps (triceps definitely harder!)
• 18/9 8am: 25 of each
• 18/9 9pm: 25 of each - did normal ones pretty easily with no breaks - triceps so much harder! already half way through :)
• 19/9 10pm: 25 of each - my arms are going to fall off!
• 21/9 11am: 25 of each (during SSS warmup)
• 22/9 10pm: 25 of each - jeepers that was hard, but I did it! 300 push ups in a week! Go me!!

Done: 300

Left: 0

Week Four Challenge - Train with a Buddy

So, the challenge this week is to train with a buddy. That's going to be a little hard with me as Greg will not get out of bed in the mornings. I think I should have it covered though with Basketball, and also once I get to Queenstown can hopefully so the SSS with the whole family.

Seeing as I failed so miserably with last weeks challenge (to give up a vice), I'm going to continue with that this week, although I will tweak it a little...

So, my three challenges this week are to:

• Eat only whats in my plan
• Log EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth
• No alcohol until we get to Queenstown on Friday

I haven't been logging my food this past week, and hoping that by starting to log again I will bring a bit more accountability to it, and feel more like making the right choices!

Updated Tues 17/9:
Managed the train with a buddy - did my SSS with mum and my sister, and it was great!
Didn't do so well on the other challenges though as had a whisky tasting part way through the week... Think I managed to log most everything though.

Week Three Challenge - Give Up A Vice

The challenge for this week is to give up one thing.  It was hard for me to choose what to give up.  I don't drink a lot of coffee, and when I do it's decaf.  I've pretty much stopped eating all sweet stuff already.  I don't bite my nails.  I don't smoke (any more).  I do drink, but it feels like a cop out to just say I'm not drinking mid week, when that's something I do quite regularly anyway.  Also we have a girls night on Sat, and I'm not going to set myself up for failure.  I'm not perfect by any means, but I struggled to work out what I should give up.

This morning I watched Michelle's Habit video, and it gave me a couple ideas.  She talked about if you want to remove a habit, you need to find a solution or something to replace it with.  It got me thinking about the times recently I've picked up a scrambled egg wrap on my way into work.  I've been justifying it in my head as being healthier than lots of other options, and that I deserve it, even though I've already had breakfast.  What a load of crap!  And also about the evening glasses of wine I have to keep Greg company.  Another load of crap!  I don't need to drink with him.

So... with that in mind, I'm going to give myself two challenges for this week:

1. Don't buy ANY food or drinks during the work week unless it's in my food plan
   This means bringing lunch in every day (which I've been good at doing anyway), and no sneaky second breakfasts.  If I need to I can replace the on my way in scrambled eggs purchase with my coffee.  It will be about an hour earlier than normal, but I should still be able to hold out until lunch time, and having the (already planned) coffee earlier instead of more food is a way better option.
2. 6 alcohol fee days this week
   This means only drinking for my girls night on Saturday.  The rest of the week is alcohol free.  If Greg is drinking, or I want something a bit special, I will get a wine glass and add sparkling water and lemon.  For the girls night I will also attempt to take it easy and switch to vodka soda as early as possible in the night to keep the calories down.

I can do this!!!  Can't wait to feel like a rockstar at the end of the week when this has been achieved!

Week 2 Challenge - Wall Sit

So this weeks challenge is to wall sit for 30 mins!  Ouchie!  Luckily we don't have to do it all at once.  I'm going to keep track of when, where and how long I "sit" for on this page.

1. 19/8 3:50pm: 1m 30s in work bathroom - going to take a while to get to 30mins at this rate!
2. 20/8 12:20pm: 1m in work bathroom. Cant believe it forgot to do more yesterday! 
3. 20/8 4pm: 1m 10s + 1m 20s in the bathroom again. Hard to do in slippy work shoes. Need to do 4+ mins a day to get to 30mins by the end of the week...
4. 20/08 5:35pm: 1m + 1m 30s in the bathroom before heading home. That makes 6 mins today. I will get to 30!
5. 20/8 19:00: 1m 30s at home while waiting for dinner to cook. Greg did it with me but I lasted longer!
6. 21/8 7:50am: 1m 10s + 1m 20s at gym after attack
7. 21/8 10:45am: 1m + 1m in the bathroom
8. 21/8 1:45pm: 1m 30s bathroom. Phew that was a hard one. Quads tired now! Woo hoo though - half way there!
9. 22/8 7am: 1m 30s + 1m after toning workout. Feel like this is now achievable and in fact I might just continue after I get to 30 and see how long I can go!
10. 22/8 11:20am: 1m in bathroom. Definitely starting to feel it. Struggled to make the minute...
11. 22/8 1:30pm: 1m in bathroom
12. 23/8 9:50am: 1m 30s at home on viber with mum
13. 24/8 10am: 1m 30s at home. I swear this is getting harder not easier!  Just another 4mins today and then the same tomorrow and it's done.  Can't believe I forgot to do more yesterday!
14. 24/8 9:15pm: 1m 30s while watching GI Joe (gregs choice)
15. 25/8 10am: 1m before breakfast
16. 25/8 9:30pm: 4m!!! + 1m 30s Made it and went out with a blast!  A whole 4 mins in one go!  Wow!  Go me!  And then followed up by 1m 30.  My quads are burning now!

Total: 30.5

Left: -0.5

I made it!!  Really proud of myself, and super stoked with the 4min effort at the end.  That's well over double anything else I've lasted!  

Week 1 Challenge - My Inspiration Board

Just created my inspiration board - was a lot of fun, but I didn't get much work done today!  Am feeling well inspired and ready to do this!

My Inspiration Board