30 Day, Catch All Self-Improvement Challenge Thread

tritium wrote: »

If I can offer a tip that may be useful for goals that just seem to run out of steam- don't just focus on the big goals, set waypoints as you go. If you want to lose 10 kilos have a waypoint at 5. If you want to learn piano, have a waypoint at performing a simple tune by some date. It sounds obvious, and indeed we often subconsciously do it, but when we build it into our plan it becomes a motivator rather than a demotivator. Just my own experience....

Good tip - it's something I've neglected in the past and hope to get better at. My medium term goal is to lost 5 pounds over the next month. So 1.25 pounds per week will be my short term goals.

Hopefully an update thread in a forum I visit every few days will keep my mind focused on the short/medium term goals I want to achieve. It may also help to read other peoples goals and progress reports.

My vice is marmalade on warm buttery toast. Nice cup of tae to go with it. Ahhh.

Start now and in a months time you could be well on your way. Do you have a target weight in mind?

From my own previous stints of losing weight it's 80% in the diet. You can't run off ****ty eating. But I find exercise helps greatly in mindset. Particularly with myself as the eating binges typically come when I'm feeling crap. A good jog boosts mood and keeps me on the fresh fruit, veg, lean meats and small portions!

Deleted User wrote: »

Ultimately I'd like to get to around 13.5 stone. I reckon any smaller and I'd look a bit silly (I've always been fairly big). But there'd be a solid years work in getting there, I'd say, from where I currently am (I think I'm 19.5 stone at the moment but not 100% sure).


I'm aware diet is the most important factor, but it's also the most delicious factor. Haha. I'm working on a little plan later today to start on Monday morning. Bit of basic cardio (walking with the hope of progressing onto 1-2km jogs by the end of the 4 weeks), but I'll make a slightly more thorough plan as I go along.

Sounds good. Let us know how you get on with the jogging.

I've looked over my logs from this time last year. I use Google Tracks on my phone when jogging. I was running 7,8,9 km reasonably easily. I'm terrified of this first jog on Monday. I've gained weight and definitly lost fitness. I'm out of breath if I run for a bus (not joking).

Deleted User wrote: »

Can I ask what your plan is for the next 30 days? I presume you're not planning to get a new job or such (as per your OP)? :P

Well, I've a few goals. And right now I'm unemployed so I have time during the day to make good progress over the next month. I want to put that time to good use as when I do get a new job I won't have as much of it. So...



I've decided to only pursue the things I actually want. Not just the things I feel I SHOULD want.

WEB DEVELOPMENT - I'm a Generic Business Graduate (TM). I did the wrong course. I enjoyed it but the job prospects are all very boring to me (more on that later). But I love building wordpress sites, hacking together little scripts and I'm getting interested in Linux now. Programming and networking is the only rabbit hole I can go down that keeps me there for hours upon hours.

GOAL: I want to work my way through this online textbook. It has 21 Chapters and 4 Javascript projects spaced out in there. Each week I will complete one of those javascript projects with the knowledge I have gained along the way.

I already have some JS, HTML and CSS. However, I still reply heavily on YouTube and guides for even the most basic of tasks. I need to remove that crutch with actual studying, note taking and developing a habit of "thinking in code", instead of just following along with a YouTube tutorial.

LOSE WEIGHT Something I've put off since April. I took an office job after college and gained a gut. Coffee, croissants, cake (my place would get a cake if someone wiped their arse right!) etc.. were my downfall. That and a lack of exercise.

I feel weak too. I've lost strength and cardiovascular fitness. I'm not happy with my appearance and I'm embarrassed that I'm getting out of breath climbing a few flights of stairs. I'm 23 years of age FFS! :eek:

GOAL 8lbs/3.5kg. Spaced out over a month that's 2lbs/0.9kg per week. Will be achieved by jogging 3 or 4 times per week (which will also increase fitness) and eating only healthy foods. No treats, snacks, pizzas, beer, bourban or Ben & Jerrys for this fella. No cheat days. No "rewards".

ONLINE STORE - I won't bore you guys with too much specifics. Basically I have a little side project. It's small but it's something I think has potential. But I procrastinate and let opportunities slip by me.

GOAL Get things set up properly and have it at a point of generating a couple orders per week.

JOB As mentioned above, I'm a Business Graduate. I could fairly easily get an interview at a multinational in the IFSC through a friend or apply for graduate programmes. However, despite having an interest in entrepreneurship I have zero interest in a corporate job which seems to be the only door a generic BA in Business opens for you. I listen to my friends discuss their jobs as entry level analysts - I really don't want to find myself stuck in the movie "Office Space" when I'm 30.

I intend to teach myself Web Development, do a ICT Conversion course that starts in January and hopefully get an internship in IT within the next 12-18 months.

But, bills need to be paid. So I plan on getting myself a stop gap admin job or similar for the next year or so. Preferably something I'd have zero chance of getting sucked into long term.

I have one "maybe" lead in my old job where I finished up in July. Could be an easy win on that front. If not it's back to old-fashioned job hunting.

GOAL Hopefully secure an admin job. At the very least get a couple of interviews.

I plan on posting regular updates on here to keep myself on track and also to read up on anyone else who wants to partake.

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

That has to be one of the most minor vices I've ever heard about.

Haha. Well I've never been the type to inhale food. I gained my gut slowly but gain it I did.

Old Jakey wrote: »

Getting back into the gym. Wish me luck brahs.

Strength or just to lose weight?

Best of luck!

Old Jakey wrote: »

Cheers!

Going for strength. No man has the right to be weak and scrawny!

I've managed to land right in the middle of the Venn Diagram and be "skinny fat". Low muscle mass from being lazy and a decent little layer of flab.

I'm going to lose the flab and incorporate some basic barbell + bodyweight exercises to regain some strength. I'll have to look into a decent strength training program in a few months time for sure.

Deleted User wrote: »

I went from being close to 14 1/2 stone in early March to being just under 13 stone now. I've also got myself to running 5k in 27 minutes, but I was pushing myself too hard doing it 5+ days a week that my body couldn't anymore, so I'm back a few weeks in my plan and trying again, but being more conservative. My plan is to take part in the 10k in Phoenix Park next year and to try and be 12 1/2 -12 stone by the end of the year.

5k in 27 minutes is a nice time. Definitely by my standards anyways. I think the best I could muster was around 37 minutes. I'm dreading looking at the stopwatch on Monday!

I hope you reach your goal by the end of the year. Hopefully the Christmas period doesn't scupper the weightloss mission.

Deleted User wrote: »

It might cause issues with running outside, but I do still exercise inside, including doing HIIT running on the spot. I had a bit of a milestone yesterday when buying skinny jeans; for the past while I've been buying size 34 waist and was jeans shopping yesterday, but they didn't have that size, so I thought, sure I'll try the 32.. And it fit very comfortably. Probably sound like a right eejit, but it felt good knowing that my efforts were working.

Thats when I realised I was going in the wrong direction.

Trying on jeans in shops. Couldn't get my usual size to fit. I thought that it must be the brand or the cut. Went to a few different places; twas the gut!

Edit: (Hey that rhymes).

Here's hoping KKV!

I spent yesterday evening planning out my week. I've blocked off times each day to focus on my goals. I've got quite a workload so the social life is going to take a hit for the next month. It'll be worth it.

Today is jogging, studying JS, getting things ready for the job hunt and the more JS reading at night.

Let's go!

My Darling Clementine wrote: »

Need to cut down on the sauce

Completely eliminated bread and pasta from my diet, but still putting away nearly 30 pints every weekend.

Gonna try cut it down to one night a week and maybe 6 or 7 pints

Christ. 30 pints a weekend seems like a lot all right. That must be harsh on the aul wallet too if you're drinking in pubs. :eek:

I cut down on drink around a year ago. Initially I thought I might give it up altogether but I do enjoy a few scoops here and there. Best decision I ever made. Haven't had a hangover in nearly a year and no more wasted Sundays wondering why I did it to myself.

Best of luck.

Deleted User wrote: »

My own approach isn't quite as hard lined as ye guys.

I'm still eating poorly and such. My plan is to slowly ween off the sweeties (I eat an enormous, enormous amount of them). So I'm still eating bad food, but lowering the amount gradually. Plan is to be eating very few/none by the start of next week. I reckon if I just give up on them altogether i'll end up going back to them a lot quicker. It's like crack cocaine.


Did a bit of walking yesterday. Drogheda's train station has a car park, with steps up to the station itself. I reckon there are a million steps (well, 144 steps.. but it feels like a million!), so I went up and down those twice (walking pace). Gonna keep at that each night and slowly up it a bit.

I have a personal trainer booked for Tuesday and Thursday next week at 11am. Also have a friend who's overly big into fitness and does a lot of running, who I'll team up with 2-3 times a week, also for a bit of light jogging and such.

My theory is that the more I commit myself to other people's time, the more seriously I'll take it all. Weighed myself on Monday morning. 19st 8lbs. Ludicrous weight. But hopefully it'll be knocked down a fair bit over the next 4-5 weeks.

Yeah, it's best to take it at your own pace. No point doing a quick flip if it'll a reset after a few days.

I find it can be difficult to suddenly change your diet. Your body is used to its daily fix of sugars, carbs etc... When I tried to quit coffee cold turkey I nearly murdered a few people and had awful headaches. Lost that battle.

Fair play on getting the personal trainer. Have never used one before. Let us know how much he charges etc...

Tbh I'd be interested in doing a few sessions with one in a gym for weight lifting. I'd have no idea what I'm at or what kind of program to do. And everything I read online seems to contradict what another one days. :pac:

I've read that people with high weights tend to shift the first part of the weight quite easily as their Base Metabolic Rate would be quite high. So hopefully you see a good bit of the extra weight fall off!

Cheers man!

That's actually not too bad of a price. Do gyms generally have personal trainers you can schedule time with? Or are they freelancer you have to locate on the interwebs yourself?

I've been in a gym literally twice in my entire life.


In 6 months time you could be a new man entirely if you keep at it!

Did an afternoon jog just before the rain came. Again, got up to 2k and started to feel like I was about to die. After that I just went with a walk/jog/walk/jog routine up to 3.75km and called it a day. Did it in 32 mins which is shockingly bad.

My hope it go get to 5km in under 30 mins by the end of this challenge. Hopefully.



For tonight it's a lean dinner, a cuppa tae and JavaScript.

Deleted User wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, whats the app you're using there?

Google tracks. Pretty basic - it tracks you GPS coordinates to calculate speed, distance, elevation etc... Give you some stats at the end and a map showing your route.

It play well with other google apps (like fit) and is also syncs to a Google Drive spreadsheet if you want it too. And, it's free!

I like it because it's simple - tells me if I'm getting faster or slower, and doing longer or shorter runs.

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but does that mean there's also an app called Google Fit?


I've used MapMyRun and Runtastic before but I'd like something by google to see can I integrate it into my Google Calendar (I can't function without Calendar. I use to remember everything that happens in my life!).

I'd love a Google App that'd calculate my jog, tell me I'm a disgrace, and then add it to my calendar to remind me, incase I need to check back in a few weeks time.

Anyone know if something like that exists?

I have Tracks and Fit installed on my phone. Both set up with the same google account.

When I jog, I record it in tracks. It gets synced to a spreadsheet in google drive and also is sent to Google Fit, which is a more general lifestyle fitness app.

I mostly just use tracks though.

Faster + longer distance = good.

Slower + shorter distance = bad.