The Colonel’s Challenge ended last week. It took me scrambling to get in some aerobic and high intensity work out there at the end, but I did it.
There are actually four areas to the Colonel’s challenge, which includes losing 5% of your body weight, but I didn’t make it there. I lost 4 lbs in 10 weeks, but I couldn’t shed that final 3 to meet 5%. I’m not too terribly upset with it, though. I’m under 140 now, so I’m on track to meet my goal of weighing 125 by the end of October.
I got a few badges out of it, which includes being in the top 10 for women’s situps/pushups (8th overall) and top 10 for swimming (4th out of 4, but hey, I got into the pool and did some stuff). I also got an ant for working out for more than 2 hours once, and a bee for working out for at least 50 days during the challenge.
The state of Idaho recently deemed that rewards and incentives for the Colonel’s Challenge participants weren’t appropriate use of funds, so there’ll be no fancy water bottles, challenge tokens, key chains, or pins this year for hitting the goals. But I knew that going into it, so no hard feelings there. My sis-in-law and I are going to continue our schedule of weightlifting three times a week and running twice because we’ve found it works for us. Plus, I’ve got another 15 lbs to shed to meet my goal of losing 30 in a year’s time.
Writing wise, I mentioned last week that I was struggling with a scene and my gut told me it should be the earthquake that separates my POV from his friend. By the time Wednesday ended, I had given in to the idea and reworked my character’s entire timeline. The trickle effect started in chapter 4 and resulted in removing two chapters, introducing a character several chapters earlier, and taking three characters out of the book completely. It sucks because it’s a lot of work, but I’m confident it’s the right move. Now we’ll see how quickly I can put it all together to get back to my halfway mark.
How are your fitness goals going? How is your writing? What is making you feel confident lately?
Yay! Go, Loni!
Thankfully my workout routine is starting to settle back to normal. It’s going to still be a bit wonky for the next few weeks, but much more doable. Goals-wise, I think I need to reevaluate what those are.
I have no fitness goals other than don’t become obese. 😉
Giiiirrrrl. That rework sounds like a LOT of work, but if your gut is telling you that’s how it’s supposed to work – you go! You have to listen to your gut so bravo for taking this big leap. It’ll definitely be worth it in the end 🙂
You’re healthier and on the right track – that’s a pretty good reward and better than a water bottle any day! Good job.
That’s a hell of a lot of workout, and I think it’s awesome that you’re doing so much. ^_^ I work out regularly, but it’s almost more to maintain than to lose, and I’ve been so mentally exhausted lately that it’s hard to get myself to the gym. But I usually do.
Glad to hear the writing reorganization is going well too, even if it means cutting a lot of stuff. Hopefully it’s all worth it in the end. (The less said about my own ‘writing’, the better.)
In writing, you should always go with your gut. The work will have been worth it 🙂
Dang! You go, girl! That amazing! I’m so proud of your fitness goals and your writing achievements. I struggle with removing a few chapters and there you are taking out characters. You rock! Keep up the great work!!
Elsie
Congratulations on your fitness achievement. That’s a bit much of a challenge for me though I could use a bit more exercise.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Cheering you on, Loni. You took the challenge and did a bang up job! As to the writing, I love that you rearranged the character timeline and got that under control. I think you’re on a roll.
Congrats!
Congratulations!! That’s fantastic. And it sounds like you are making the right changes with your story. I bet it won’t be long at all before you reach that halfway mark again. Woot!
Well done, Loni! I am thoroughly impressed! My weight loss goals are coming along . . . very . . . slowly. I remind myself it’s a marathon, not a sprint – it took awhile to put the weight on, it will take awhile to lose it. It would probably help if I moved more. 🙂
Well done on the challenge! I wish I had the same level of dedication and focus that you do.
Congrats! You probably didn’t lose the weight you wanted because that kind of workout puts on muscle which weighs more than fat.
Great job!
Congratulations on your fitness achievements – and on tackling the timeline re-work. Guess our Governor Butch has better plans for our money, even if he is retiring.
Wow! You did awesome. This last week my fitness went to the crapper, but sometimes that happens. My confidence booster when I fixed my screen door! (Thanks for letting me know about my title typo!)
The first two months of the year saw me getting back into the swing of things, but then the chemo abscess reared its head again. That threw me off track, but I’ll know more tomorrow after I consult with the surgeon about my MRI. Fitness goals and writing goals have so much in common. We are often thrown off course, but it’s just a matter of acknowledging they can’t all be good days and it’s always possible to get back on course.
Doing what feels right will bump up your project. Good luck with the battle. I have no doubt you’ll do great. 🙂