And why can’t I just leave a challenge as it stands and not up the ante? So here’s the deal. My friend Molly put up a challenge to read 10 books in March. I am totally up for that since I gave up gaming for lent (and I can’t tell you how hard it was not to play spider solitaire last night or this morning), so I should be able to fill that void with reading. So I went through the books I have listed in Goodreads, and wrote down the ones I have either started or haven’t read at all yet. That would be 20. Actually, it’s probably 19 as I have 2 Corrie Ten Boom books listed, and one of them I read when I was around 12, but I can’t remember which one I read. Since I have started reading 8 of those books, and just need to finish them, I have decided that I am going to complete my list of 20 by Easter. That’s 6 1/2 weeks…with no naps… 😉
Challenge #1: 20 books by Easter.
Now that I have lost 20 pounds, and it is actually noticeable now, I need to start working on core training to tone, build up muscle, and absolutely do something about the fat between my underarms and boobs. That fat goes away most effectively with pushups. I haven’t been able to do a real pushup in years. When I got out of the military I could only do 1. Yes, that is pathetic. I never was in danger of maxing out on pushups, but in my younger years, I was always able to do between 10 and 20. So my next challenge has to do with pushups, and is a 2-part.
Challenge #2a: 1 real pushup by March 2.
Challenge #2b: 10 real pushups by March 31.
Back in the Air Force, I ballooned up dangerously close to my max weight after I quit smoking. Rather than risking being put on the fat girl program (and having less than a year left and refusing to buy new uniforms), I started taking my fat arse to the gym. I went every weekday afternoon and still remember my routine:
Monday: Stationary bike (because that’s what we were PT tested on) and weights.
Tuesday: Elliptical and crunches.
Wednesday: Rowing, stair stepper, or treadmill (depending on my mood) and weights.
Thursday: Same as Tuesday
Friday: Same as Monday.
I wasn’t really dieting at the time. I gave up chips, but I think that was it. Hence, it took a full year to lose 20 pounds. Now that I have identified my comfort food addiction, and cut out the addictive foods (mainly pastas and breads), I somewhat have a handle on my diet and have lost 20 pounds in about 4 months, predominantly through diet. I say that because I haven’t done crossfit in months, and haven’t managed more than 2 runs a week if that. In fact, I haven’t run in over 2 weeks now. So my next challenge is exercise related.
Challenge #3: Cardio and core at least 3 times a week…each.
Anyone want to join me for any or all of these?
Oh you know I am game for a challenge! I am going to ponder this and post later this afternoon….oh yeah – this is going to be fun!
Yay! :dance:
I *want* to join you for all of them, but at this point in my high risk pregnancy, I would fail all three. lol. I’ll cheer you on though!!! You can do it!!!!!! 🙂
You are totally excused from the exercise ones, but the reading? I think you could pull that off. It’s not like you’ll be tested on any of the books… :whistle:
The main problem with the reading challenge is that I don’t have that many books I’m interested in reading. And if something doesn’t interest me, my ADD forces me to stop reading. And I hate our local library! I read all the time in WA, because the library rocked and we went every week or so!!! I grabbed a couple of books Britta left here, and I literally put down ‘The Help’ after TWO sentences, one of which was a fragment, and I just couldn’t handle that. So if I find that many books (or any) that I actually want to read, then I’ll give it a go. lol
Right. I have 8 partially read books and only actively reading 1 of them, and only looking forward to finishing 2 others. And, there isn’t a single fiction book on my reading list either. That’s rather nerdy… 😉
Interesting. Most everyone I know loved The Help. Huh.
I forced myself through The Shack in case I ever decide to argue why it’s heretical. 😉
Well, if there is ever a group of people with the caption “which one of these is not like the others?”, the answer is usually “Perra”… I should blog the list of books/movies/music that everyone goes on about but I hated. I might anger too many people though. lol
I borrowed The Shack for the same purpose, but after reading several reviews, I decided it was too blasphemous to even pick up – its still on my shelf. I guess I should return it. Ha!
Britta explained to me that the first chapter of The Help is written from the perspective of an old black woman, but I still haven’t been able to open it again. Doesn’t seem like my kind of thing anyway – even though people go on and on about it.
I haven’t read much fiction lately either. I do have some unread James Patterson downstairs though…
It wasn’t as heretical as I was expecting, but it isn’t a book I would recommend to anyone that is the least bit weak in the faith. It is a very emotional book, and we know how we can’t trust our emotions…
And who the heck is Perra?!?! I can’t even spell my own name!!!
That’s the lack of sleep! :tired:
Well, if you gave up gaming, you can’t do the challenge…. It’s still gaming. :laughatu:
:tappity: