Bea's Quest!

R

ribbons

New member
Howdy, I'm Bea (new here!) and I am an art student on a glorious mission to become a tramp ....get healthy.


I made a promise to myself that by next Halloween I would get healthy and fit. Part of the reason was so that I could justify myself splurging on one of those skimpy/slutty Alice in Wonderland costumes (or She-Hulk, I haven't decided yet). Halloween is my favorite time of year (I look forward to it more than my own prom) so I thought it would make a splendidly fun goal.


So far, I haven't had much luck or motivation with exams and Thanksgiving holiday turkey season, but I've drawn up a plan and I'm ready to stick to it. I have to admit it gets kind of tough when the family orders KFC though. Hopefully, I can chart some of my progress here daily.


Currently, age 18: I've never really worked out a day in my life (noodle arms!), sitting at a lumpy size 2, and around 5ft 5in in height. My goal is to get strong, healthy, and fit.
 
Day 1 & 2 .. . . . . ..


Summary: I've been keeping up with the beginner's 45-day exercise plan. I've been trying to drink about two bottles of water a day. I'm trying to make progress on that whole eat more vegetables thing, but we never really seem to have any fresh fruits and veggies very often in my household. Next time we head to the grocer's I'll scope out the frozen food aisle and see what I can do within my budget. Hot damn though, situps are harder than I remember. Maybe I'm not doing them right; I can barely lift myself up.


Day 1:



15 minutes of walking, jumping-jacks, and lunges~ with weights

Breakfast: pepper/ham/green onion omelet & mini bagel w/ almond butter (I think I drank milk)

Lunch: ham/spinach/chicken pizza (x1 slice) & one chicken wing that was terrible. Never ordering wings from there again.

Dinner: Mojito marinaded Steak w/ rice & beans. Water

Snacks: pineapple/yogurt chunks



Day 2:


5 reps of 10 situps and pushups

Breakfast: Belgian waffle & milk

Lunch: I was about to prepare some tofu but I was cock-blocked by some Chinese food my dad suddenly brought home. Jiminy Cricket I love Chinese food.

Dinner: An eggroll? I had the big breakfast and the late lunch so I wasn't much hungry. We discovered a really good Chinese place next to our house though. They actually use more chicken than the other places I've been to in my area. My stomach hurt so I had a 1/4 of a Sprite soda can.

Snacks: Some trail mix my mom brought home from work. The kids in her classroom made it. Dried cranberries, chex, and odd color varieties of goldfish. Some marshmallows too. I'm pretty sure somewhere along the day I had some pineapple chunks again. Those things are delicious.



Go, Go me! First flossing and now exercising! (You have no idea how hard it was to get into the routine of flossing.) I'm running out of bad habits to kick.
 
Welcome to the forum Bea! Congratulations on making the decision to become a tramp get healthy! (love it!). There are alot of motivating people on here especially in the exercise area! You sound like you're doing great...be careful not to over do it at the beginning...especially since you're new to the exercise routine...and that's exactly what it is...a habit! I enjoy reading your posts and seeing your enthusiasm...you are motivating for me (I'm 51 and on a journey to lose 110 pounds...I've lost about 60 so far...onto my next 50!)...the good news is, you are starting early...you didn't wait until you were 51...you're way ahead of me!! You go girl!
 
Woohoo! Thanks! (& Super wow at losing 60lbs! That must have taken a lot of effort! )

I'll be sure to take it slow. I tried to RUN today (yikes!) and dear goodness that was a terrible idea. (It could have been the banana I ate before my run trying to creep up on me, but I felt really woozy afterwards.) Next time (tomorrow) I'll just take a stroll instead. ...
 
Day 3, 4, & 5


Summary: I've managed to keep up so far; that is, if you count 2-3 hours Christmas shopping at the mall an adequate substitute for a 15 minute cardio day. I have a slight aversion to running now because of today's incident with the dizziness/nauseousness after my run. I had a banana before my run (because that is what the writer of the guide did on a regular basis and it seemed like a good idea at 8am when my stomach was rumbling) so I think the fruit might be the culprit. Safe to say, I won't be eating before a workout again.

I'll try dusting off my rollerblades for tomorrow.


Day 3 - (Christmas party indulging)


2-3 hours walking/Christmas shopping

Breakfast: whole grain bread w/ almond butter & 1/2 glass milk

Lunch: leftover Chinese (rice, 2 strips beef, onions, peppers), fortune cookie, misc tomato slice, water

Snacks: 2 small red velvet cupcakes, 2 slices bread & bruschetta, orange slice, misc fruits (blueberries, cantalope, pineapple)

Dinner: Burger, 1/4 soda can, 1 single BBQ chip (for tasting)




Day 4


Weight lifting- bicep, tricep ext. x10, 5 reps - 15 min fullbody stretch

Brunch: Turkey sandwich on french bread, OJ

Snacks: orange, Dole yogurt/pineapple chunks

Dinner: x3 little lobster tails, 2 slices baked tilapia, mango pico de gallo, white rice, water, banana



Day 5


15 minute jog/walk - 15 min before/after fullbody stretch

Breakfast: banana, bagel w/ turkey slice and bruschetta

Lunch: tofu piece to taste (I finally prepped it and I have it marinating for tomorrow!), almond/banana whole grain sandwich w/ milk

Snacks: pineapple dole yogurt chunks, orange, sugar cookie

Dinner: 1/4 soda can, yellow rice, mojito steak, 1/2 banana



Loving the stretching parts of the exercise, I have to say.
 
Hey Bea,

Sorry about the banana incident...I never eat before a workout. I do drink a bottle of water though! Looks like you've got a good plan ahead..just be sure to keep your eye on the prize as you go through the holidays! Keep it up and thanks for your updates!

Sarah
 
Day 6


summary: We are renovating the bathroom today (which I am out of my mind excited for) - painting, framing the mirror, replacing fixtures, and staining the cabinets. I live for home improvement projects and that dull gray paint was killing me. I can't get to sleep because I'm so excited to wake up earlier than everyone else and finish painting by myself, so I had to write this to calm myself down.

In the land of on-topic I did some squatting today. It hurts to climb stairs now. However, the entire time I was thinking about how cute I'd look in a Wonder Woman costume. Exposed legs, sweetheart neckline, Lynda Carter version.



Exercise: house-painting & renovations all day (I was too tired to cardio, and I vote it counts), and (x5) reps of 20 squats (=100 total...ouch)

Breakfast: mini-bagel, turkey, OJ, banana

Lunch: marinated (garlic/basil/lemons/pepper flakes) tofu, spaghetti, 1/3 soda

Snacks: cookies, pineapple chunks

Dinner: Porkchop, rice, beans, water




Is it really all that bad to snack right before bed? I like to have some fruit before I go to sleep, but I've been reading that your body doesn't burn your fat as well when you snack before bed.
 
Day 7


summary: Ouch. Thighs. Pain.



Exercise: 15 minute walk with the dog. Fullbody stretch, shoulder workout

Breakfast: mini-bagel, turkey, OJ

Lunch: turkey sandwich, water

Dinner: avocado, beefsteak, rice, beans, banana

Snacks: orange, pineapple chunks



Day 8 (pause!)


summary: More bathroom painting. I wanted to exercise, but my thighs hurt even worse than yesterday (my mom thought it would be funny to sit on me). I deemed today break day. I'll get back on the wagon for sure tomorrow.



no exercise (actually, I tried one jumping jack and cried- manly tears, mind you.)

Breakfast: pineapple chunks, mini-bagel, turkey, OJ

Lunch: almond butter sandwich, milk

Dinner: 'bacon' grilled chicken, rice, beans, soda

Snacks: avocado, cake
 
Hey Ribbons,

Sometimes we all need a break...don't beat yourself up over it! I took a day off this week too after spending all night on the toilet, but I was able to get back on it the next day...I don't want to let the 'breaks" turn into habits! Sounds like you got alot going on in your house right now...just take things one at a time and you'll be fine. Have a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to following your posts in the new year!

Sarah
 
Thanks. My break ended up being 3 days long, but I've gotten back to it for these two days. I'm happy to report the bathroom turned out lovely.
 
Day 9 & 10


No working out, normal meals, renovations, aching muscles. I had a really great meal at the steakhouse on Christmas Eve. Grilled stuffed trout, loads of endless bread. Yum.


Day 11 (Merry Christmas!)


Summary: Surprisingly great day with the family.



Exercise: (x 5 reps) 10 jumping jacks, 10 situps, 10 crunches

Breakfast: bagel, turkey, OJ', banana

Lunch: Ham, lechon, potato salad, plantain, rice, soda

Dinner: too full for dinner

Snacks: 3 guava pastries, 1.25 cookies, 3 yucky chocolates, ginger ale



Day 12


summary: I got to use the new bath and the lighting we installed is a bit unforgiving. I never noticed the amount of cellulite on my backside. It was pretty shocking (and disheartening/yikes!) actually. I am going to add daily lunge/touch down exercises to tone the area. 2012 is going to be a tough year.



Exercise: dancing, squats, lunges

Breakfast: guava pastry, OJ, banana, turkey mini bagel

Lunch: ham, potato salad, plantain, ginger ale, rice

Dinner: a piece of steak, water

Snacks: pineapple chunks
 
New Years post!

(curse you backspace key, I have to rewrite this again!)


I haven't been postin' all that much for what seems to be a week. Ever since Day 12, I've been in shock or something, but I'm especially happy to report those dog days are over and despite two days of missed cardio because of the freakish weather, I am over the moon with happiness.
I'm not going to try and back track what the heck I did/ate and instead I'm going to discuss less factual topics..y'know feelings/emotions/happenings and all that Sesame Street jazz

My exercising quest has set off a surprising chain of events in my life. (I apologize in advance for the long read; in short, I just feel hella fine. )


My brother has also began his own regimen, independent from my own and entirely free of me coercing him. Monkey-see, monkey-do type stuff. We don't talk about it; it just happened and I think its pretty cool that he's doing it too. He goes to the gym though. Planet Fitness. Its really pretty in there.

I gave clothes away to the salvation army. I am such a pack rat/hoarder when it comes to my clothes. Its exhausting for me to throw something away; I get anxiety. Somehow, I was able to just toss them in a large bag and let them go- let go of all that history and guilt. Sayanara middle school faux pas. It was a lot of growing up and I'm excited to update my look & join the human race.

Through my afternoon adventure of trying things on, I realized I look pretty swell in shorts. So spring, here I come! On a whim I also tried on my itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, tangerine bikini and I loved myself in it. I would never go to the beach with friends. Especially guy friends. But now? I'm going to be throwing beach parties. I just feel good. Something has clicked within me.

I made a decision to finish a whole bunch of projects- most notably, my novel. Its something that has been floating in my head since middle school and has haunted me since. I need that story out of my body, so I'm going to write it. I've been reading books writing and this is going down. Not for profit or anything like that, but I want to do it for myself so I can move on creatively from it.

Last but not least- I changed majors. I was originally going to be doctor, a pharmacist. It felt safe. I wasn't really making a decision when I chose that major; it just sounded good (If that makes any sense). I used to never really make a decision about things. There has always sort of been this sort of push and pull from external forces, but this whole 'Bea's Quest' thing has not only made me physically stronger, but internally as well. I feel more important now; I acknowledge I am entirely capable of making a decision for myself. So that is why I'm an art student now. It took zillions of cheesy movies, my annual Christmas/New Years Lord of the Rings marathon, and my health quest for me realize it. (For Frodo!)





So I guess I'm on Day 19 or something. 2012 is going to be a great year everyone.
 
Wow Ribbons, I can see why you are over the moon happy! Sounds like you have taken charge of your life...it's your life!! I'm so proud of you!! To take these steps at 18 is pretty mature! Keep that great attitude and determination in your life and you can do whatever you want...anything! Thanks for keeping us in the loop and continue to stay focused! You'll be a "tramp" beautiful head/turning girl in no time!

Sarah
 
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