Tag: Challenge

Challenges…

by Mr Knitter, posted in General

A new year means the usual crap resolutions, and I totally agree with Bianca Del Rio.

I am not good with resolutions, never have been as I tend to break them quite fast, however, I find that if I challenge myself then there is a goal to work to, like my Goodreads challenge of x amount of books read in a year.

So, my challenges are as follows, and yes a little general, but hell, it’s not like it really matters.

  • Read 30 books
  • Reduce refined sugar consumption
  • Walk a few kilometres each day with the dog and work up to something like climbing Mount Snowdon
  • Knit more, and finish all the projects that I have put on hold.
  • Do a few KAL’s (for those who don’t know KAL=Knit along)
  • Blog at least once a week, otherwise why am I paying for this site?
  • Lose two and a half stone (35lb)
  • Not eat fast food for 2020 (that may be hard)
  • Get back into writing to my penpals
  • Take M out more on days out
  • Get back into meditating

Things I need to do are more personal, being more patient with M, doing more about the house to save him from doing it, and make a bit more healthier meals. Not that my food is unhealthy, however, we do like bad food as it tastes so good.

I am sure that there are more thing that I should have on my list, but I will wing it for now and add things on as I go along. Again, these are challenges that I am more likely to do rather than an irrational list of impossible changes.

Reading Challenge – Complete

by Mr Knitter, posted in Books

At the beginning of the year, I decided my Goodreads challenge would be 30 books. Now for those who really know me, know that I usually have about 10 to 15 books on the go at one time, and flit between them. I need constant stimulation when reading and if I find that the book is lulling a bit, then that goes down and I get another one and read till that gets to that point, or more often than not, I decide that I need a different story, feel, drama, whatever, it just needs to be changed. I can sit in bed at night and start to read, then after say 30 minutes swap books and continue to read.

So, after 8 full months and a few days, I hit my 30 book challenge. I have mixed it up quite a bit and changed genres throughout. One of the best reads so far was The Salt Path by Raynor Winn which is about her and her husband Moth losing their home, business and everything due to a bastard so-called friend. Their journey of being homeless, dealing with Moth’s diagnosis of a terminal illness, wild camping and surviving on very little money and dried noodles really was a testament to their determination. This really is a book I loved and would recommend it to everyone. Oh, yes, his name really is Moth!

Other books read which completed the challenge since my last book post was Bundy: Portrait of a Serial Killer by Robert Keller and Neverland by Jeff Dosser. Both books proving I really do swap from genre to genre.

Weight Loss Challenge…

by Mr Knitter, posted in Food & Drink, General

I am a little overweight and keep saying that I am going to diet, and half-heartedly attempt it.  Last week a buddy of mine who is overweight challenged me to do weight loss together and see who does the best.  I love a challenge and when I am competing with others I become quite bloody-minded.  So, the challenge is on, I have been logging everything I eat and drink, and am sticking to about 1200 calories.  I was thinking of going lower as this would have the best result, but I think 1200 is about right as I do not want my body to go into starvation mode.

I have been looking at the 5/2 diet, but the idea of fasting for two days really does not inspire.  This weekend I have been a little naughty, but I am keeping track of my calories and determined to stick to it.

One of the problems I have is that I love my food.  Although I am not a big eater, I do love to eat all the wrong things, like cake, puddings, sweets (candy) and jelly sweets like Haribo.  I also love to drink full-fat milk, and gallons of it by all account.  Milk is my biggest weakness if I am being honest.

M has decided to join in with the weight loss too, so that will be good.  I am just hoping I can drop weight faster than my mate as I would hate to lose the challenge.  My start weight on Monday was 14 stone and 3 pounds (200lb/90.7kg).  At the beginning of the year I was 14 stone 8 pounds, and did a diet and lost a decent amount of weight, but then it went to the wayside, however, I have more reason to do it due to being challenged.  Once I have lost my weight I intend to build some muscle.  I would love to have a six-pack, but not sure I will ever get to that, but as the saying goes ‘Dream Big & Aim High’

I will update here as I journey into my challenge.  My friend J was incredibly overweight, to the point of being clinically obese, and dare I say it dangerously close to having a heart attack.  She has documented her weight loss challenge on Instagram and it is amazing to see the change.  Although I will not be displaying my fat gut for you all, as I don’t want you to feel sick, but I may, if really successful do a before and after pic.

So, here goes…