Berry's July "something different every day" challenge

BerryH

Consistency is key, or is variety the spice of life?

Consistency worked for me. I lost 28lbs (2 stone) using MFP exactly as designed, doing exercise I enjoy and eating food I, err, enjoy too, just less of it.

However I became complacent and, frankly, bored, and put half of that back on. Today I woke up a pound shy of 13 stone and finding my favourite cardio, steady state outdoor running, blooming hard.

I'm often inspired by results on the forums and thought maybe if I tried what that hot, fit personis doing I might get the same results, but who has the time and patience to stick with system after system that may or may not work?

So I'm going to take July out of my normal routine to try out a little bit of everything. Every day I will try one different thing. Exercise wise this could be a new DVD or internet workout, gym class, exercise, time of day or intensity. Diet wise I will mostly stick with MFP set to lose 1lb a week and eating back exercise calories, but I'll try a day here and there of 5:2 diet, paeleo, 8-hour diet, Dukan or vegan, for instance, but this won't be my main focus.

Of course, I'll be open to forum suggestions and challenges, so feel free to post your suggestions here!

Of course, this sort of thing wouldn't be scientific without before/after photos and stats, so here we go on 30/06/2012:




Weight: 12 stone 13lbs ( 181lbs, 82kg)

Chest: 42"

Waist (narrowest point): 38"

Belly: 42"

Hips: 43"

Bicep: 13.5"/13.5"

Thigh: 26"/26.5" (ugh, I remember when that was my waist measurement!)

I'll be back tomorrow with my first day of something different. In the meantime, don't forget to shout if you think of something I should try!

Berry x

TheGoktor

Cool! From tomorrow, I'll be getting over my fear of the gym! It's too hot to run here, plus where we are, the traffic is mental, so no running along the roadside (dodging the potholes!).... dreadmill it is then. Plus spinning, cross-trainer, rowing machine, free weights, and a multigym thing! Looking into pilates too!

I would put my stats but I have no tape measure (yet), and no scales (yay!)... will be going by how my clothes fit, and how flexible I feel! :bigsmile:

KayakAngel

What a great idea! Can't wait to see your follow up posts and reviews. I wish I had suggestions to add to your exercise menu, but I'm more a consistency fan = lots of the same over and over.

amandaj1966

Our bodies get uses to the same exercises day in day out so your idea is great. Will look forward to seeing how you get on. X

lucypeaks

i got sooooo bored of doing the same exercise dvd day after day, even though for the first few months it was a great way to tone up and lose weight. Decided to get a bike and cycle as much as the weather allows (i am fortunate enough to live by the sea) and i swim whenever i can!

BerryH

I think my first Thing will be swimming after work tomorrow. I don't think I've been in the pool since February! The challenge will be not JUST doing swimming every day while it's so hot and humid!

BendySpartan

Great idea, love it! My exercise of choice is sticking some tunes on and dancing like a loon!! Will give you a kick if all we see is swimming. Have fun x

Maggie821

First let me say that you are carrying that weight and measurements very well; I would have thought you were much, much thinner, my friend!

Since you already have swimming and pole dancing (lol) on your agenda, I'm going to challenge you add planks to your fitness routine. Work your way up to a 2 minute plank. I'll do it with you!!! Let's go!

BerryH

Day one.

What? Swimming, breast stroke and front crawl, leisurely.
When? After work, 6.45 pm.
How long? 30 minutes.
What's new? Everything - it's day one silly!
How do I feel? Refreshed, slightly stiff shoulders.

First time I've swum since February! When I rejoined the gym, they told me Monday and Tuesday evenings were the busiest, but there were only one or two other people in the pool, and at points I had it all to myself, like a millionaire. Waterproof mascara is a must for post-work swims (Maybelline, if you're interested).

I accidentally picked up my old swimsuit, which is half decayed with age and a little skimpy - if wasn't falling out up top I was down below!

I have company tomorrow night and I'm interviewing in the morning, and I'm not 100% sure I can make myself completely respectable post-gym, so tomorrow may be a morning home workout.

BerryH

Day two.

What? Running to gym, cross-trainer warm-up, upper body resistance machines.
When? Before work, 6.45 am.
How long? 30 minutes.
What's new? Using machines instead of free weights.
How do I feel? Strong like bull!

I forgot to mention yesterday that my "something different" workout actually started in the wee small hours yesterday, herding a naked somnambulist partner back in through the front door!

Today's lesson learned - I can get up at my normal time and do a decent workout. I just had to be prepared with my kit and have my breakfast at work. I might not be fully awake - I left the spoon in my porridge when I microwaved it. Fortunately no explosions ensued.

Using the machines was mainly because I've been scared of using them since MFP bullied me into free weights being the only way ahead! To be fair, there were some very nicely-shaped people using them, so they can't be all bad.

BerryH

Day three.

What? Running to gym, Pilates class.
When? Straight after work 7pm.
How long? 1 hour.
What's new? Haven't done Pilates for years and years, and never at this gym.
How do I feel? "Oof, I'm gonna feel that!"

My highly organised streak didn't last long. I left my gym kit at home so had to do a mad dash home after work to change. I left in time to get the early train, but both Tube lines and the mainline train were all delayed! I had to run to the gym and staggered last into class. I introduced myself to the delectable Sally who was a great teacher around my age with an inspirational figure (but how her false boobs didn't fall out of that top I'll never know!).

Anecdote: Sally's friend has a daughter is also called Berry, but it isn't short for anything.

For reasons of balance, flexibility and core strength I need to do this to both counteract and help my running. A lot.

Edit: Hopefully this will help with Maggie's plank challenge, which I haven't forgotten. There were LOADS of plank variations.

BerryH

Day four.

What? Dreadmill running, slow and steady.
When? Before work at 7am.
How long? 30 minutes.
What's new? Haven't been on a dreadmill since I quit the gym a year ago.
How do I feel? Shoot me now...

I had the worst night's sleep last night, I must have seen every hour in, due to some combination of humidity and the sinus medication I'm taking. The first and second time my alarm went off, I told myself I could have a day off, or squeeze in some exercise later. The third time I remembered the kit I'd laid out the night before and just got the hell up, ran to the gym, ran at the gym, ran home, with tears of fatigue streaming down my face.

I broke an unusual three day dry streak with some beers for my work friend's leaving do. Maybe that will help me sleep

BerryH

Day five.

What? Rest day with 8-hour diet
When? Half-hour Berry-speed walk at lunchtime
How long? 8 hours...
What's new? Any kind of IF
How do I feel? Hungry... hungry...EAT ALL THE FOOD!!!

How to do something different on a rest day? Try a new form of dieting. The 8-hour diet seemed the most accessible. Basically, you have an 8-hour window in which to eat. I chose 11am to 7pm. I can't deny skipping breakfast left me hungry, but in effect I just delayed it to mid morning. Pretty simple to see how it works, the timing means you basically skip a meal or snack and don't have time to eat after dinner. I may try this again.

Oh, and I did sleep!

BerryH

Day six.

What? Stronglifts workout 1 with cross trainer warmup.
When? 11.15 am (I left it too late in the heat to do any running).
How long? 1 hour
What's new? Playing with barbells
How do I feel? Incompetent and like I'll hurt tomorrow.
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb

Oh God, I need someone to show me how to use barbells. I realised as soon as I had them in my hands I didn't have a clue what I was doing. Plus I thought I'd memorised the workout, but I ended up pretty much making it up (I added deadlifts from workout 2). Pendlay rows? Not a clue. How much does a barbell weigh anyhow? I had a pathetic 10kg on for squats (no squat rack, only a Smith machine, had to lift it over my head) and, umm, 15kg? for my "what the hell am I doing?" deadlift/row made-up combo. My legs like weights, though, I'll do more.

Spied the Body Max class through the window. Looks evil. I may just try it next week.

Added a couple of planks and side planks on the end. Two minutes by the end of the month? Gulp!

Got my running kit laid out to get out there before it gets too hot tomorrow.

BerryH

Day seven.

What? Split long run.
When? 8am and 9.30am
How long? 50 mins total
What's new? Dividing a long run into two due to circumstances beyond my control.
How do I feel? DOMS from hell.
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb
Waist before/current 38"/36"

I admit it, I didn't set my alarm early enough to get my planned 50 minute run in before I had to get home and provide a taxi service. Well, it was Sunday! Nil desperandum, I did the first half hour, hopped in the car all sweaty with the air con on full blast, and half an hour later I was running round Forty Hall estate, in pleasantly dappled sunlight. This time of year the rose garden both smells and looks gorgeous, and all those butterflies we're missing elsewhere were fluttering through the long grass down by the river. I'm not saying it was easy to persuade my legs to start again after a break, though!

I've now realised this challenge has cursed me to month-long DOMS, especially in my hamstrings. But you can't argue with two inches off the waist in a week. For me, exercising outside my comfort zone is the essential element towards getting the body I want.

BerryH

Day eight.

What? Body Combat.
When? 7pm
How long? 1 hour
What's new? First Body Combat class
How do I feel? Who do I have to kill to get a rest day?
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb
Waist before/current 38"/36"

Don't get me wrong, I love a good fighty workout. I have (in a drawer somewhere) an orange belt in karate, I've taken kickboxing classes and taught Billy Blanks everything he knows. And it was far from the first time I've walked into a class where everyone was more than 10 years younger and a stone lighter than me. I'm just not sure that choreography and skills designed to thwart an opponent in combat mix. Or that's just my excuse for not being able to keep up.

Day seven: Berry's July "something different every day" challenge

I am. Utterly. Knackered.

BerryH

Day nine.

What? Bit of everything
When? All day
How long? Errr...
What's new? Doing something... anything... when I just don't think I can
How do I feel? I might just live
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb
Waist before/current 38"/36"

As Robert Burns was wont to say, the best laid plans of mice and exercisers gang aft aglae, and boy did they ever gang aglae today.

I had my swimming kit ready and set my alarm. But when I woke in the night to go to the bathroom, my legs didn't work. It wasn't that they hurt, they just. Wouldn't. Work. I actually fell on the floor in a big heap and had to regather myself to actually get upright again. Too many different "leggy" things in a row, I guess.

Needless to say, I just didn't have the wherewithal to drag myself to the pool before work. So I put it to my MFP friends for suggestions.

I went for a speedy sunny lunchtime stroll in a different direction to usual (there may have been a diversion to the Monsoon sale - hey hipsters like me need red trousers). When I got home I only had half an hour to myself before dinner and had to work out in "civvies", so I threw my kettlebell about for a bit and did a few planks. One minute 10 for the record.

I didn't do the teach yourself the Thriller dance, or Prancercise, for that matter - I still have those to look forward to!

TheGoktor

...gang aft aglae, and boy did they ever gang aglae today.

Is it wrong that I always read that as 'algae'? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

BerryH

Day 10.

What? Pilates and veggie day.
When? 7pm
How long? 1 hour.
What's new? Not responding to the siren call of meat or fish. Mmmm, dead animal...
How do I feel? Bloody hungry!
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb
Waist before/current 38"/36"

Yes, the Pilates class is a repeat (although there was a new routine) so I decided to eschew the lure of animal flesh for the day as my different thing. I was actually going to try vegan, but by that time, I'd put milk in my tea and porridge. Plus a day without cheese... *shudder*

Sally, the woman who teaches the Pilates class is quite a sight to behold. About my age, or a bit older, the woman is 90% tan and muscle. I'd love to think she got all that from just doing Pilates, but there's no way she doesn't weight train too. What's the other 10%? Implants, barely concealed in her faintly pornographic strappy workout top (and I'm pretty sure that was a push-up bra strap I spied, not a sports bra). How she keeps them in while upside-down I'll never know. The power of the pelvic floor, perhaps?

As a side note, I have tiny toes, which seriously affect my balance, especially with all the one-leg or standing on toes Pilates moves. When I took one of those barefoot running scans, they were like "Where are your toes?". They don't even touch the ground! That's my excuse for falling over so much, and I'm sticking to it.

Oh, and Pret A Manger hot falafel and halloumi wraps are awesome.

BerryH

Day 11.

What? Running intervals chased by zombies.
When? 6.45am
How long? 30 minutes
What's new? Oh God, I really should do intervals more...
How do I feel? How many people can I tell I was up and running before 7?
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb
Waist before/current 38"/36"

The Zombies, Run! app is far and away the best fitness app I've ever come across (except MFP, of course!). Nothing has motivated me to get out the door more than playing my role in maintaining civilisation in a post-apocalyptic society. So I'm somewhat ashamed to admit I haven't been using zombie chases, where you are randomly attacked by the undead and have to up your speed for a minute to escape, this year at all. So today I bit the bullet. Or perhaps bit the baseball bat might be more appropriate. I'd like to blame being caught twice out of three chases on that whole not getting run over as I crossed roads thing, but it really was down to being rubbish. Consider this a resolution to do more intervals, it may even help accelerate my longer distance speed beyond a pensioner-worthy shuffle.

BerryH

Day 12.

What? Stationary cycling.
When? 7pm
How long? 30 minutes
What's new? Hey, this pile of discarded clothes turns out to have exercise equipment underneath!
How do I feel? Suitably punished for last night's coder
SW/CW: 183lb/181lb
Waist before/current 38"/36"

I had my swimming kit in my bag and ready to go this morning. However, after a hot-weather induced cider too many last night meant it was all I could do to tear my face from the pillow and get to work. Thanks to this challenge, I had to do something and I only had half an hour before dinner. So I dug out (literally, from under a pile of clothes) my old exercise bike, which hasn't seen much bum-cheek time since I moved it from the living room into the bedroom. I don't remember it being this hard, I was dripping with sweat by the end, and said bum-cheeks were distinctly numb! However, I did get inspiration from the Tour De France highlights. Go Chris Froome!