resolution progress

Resolution Progress 2017: First Half

(Original ; First Quarter ; Half ; Three-Quarters ; Final)

For the first half, I should have progressed about 50%. So, let’s see where I am.

Resolution Progress 2017: First Quarter

(Original ; First Quarter ; Half ; Third-Quarter ; Final)

For the first quarter, I should have progressed about 25%. So, let’s see where I am.

Resolutions 2017

( Original ; First Quarter ; Half ; Third-Quarter ; Final)

  • Read 52 books. The 75 goal was ambitious even for me, so life made it way harder than I expected. Back to the normal goal.
    • Hit 20,000 pages. 
    • Read politically. Pick at least ten books about political theory or events.
    • Read on decision making and influence. Pick at least ten books on behavioral economics or psychology.
    • African American and mixed study. Pick at least ten books on African-American or mixed experiences.
    • Read the book and (re-)watch the movie or TV series. Pick at least 5 books.
    • Finish the book series.
      • Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #2-3.
  • Exercise. The ultimate goals are reaching the “essential benchmarks” of bench 1.5x body weight (360 lb), squat 2x bodyweight (480), deadlift 2.5x bodyweight (600). I am expecting to achieve about 5 pounds a month, for about 50 a year with some leeway.
    • Bench 290 pounds (1RM). I ended 2016 at 240 1RM.
    • Squat 360 pounds (1RM eq). I ended 2016 at 310 1RM.
    • Deadlift 425 pounds (1RM eq). I ended 2016 at 375 1RM.

Resolution Progress 2016: End

OK, the year is completely done, so here is where I am with each resolution.

  • Read 75 books. Done.
    • Hit 25,000 pages. Final count is 25,361. Done.
    • Finish series already started. (25 of the 75 books.)
  • Lifting.
    • Bench 240 pounds (1RM equivalent). The actual 1RM that I did during this period was 240. Done.
    • Squat 300 pounds (1RM eq). The actual 1RM that I did during this period was 310. Done.
    • Deadlift 335 pounds (1RM eq). The actual 1RM that I did during back in July was 365. Done.
    • After getting to these, I will shift to reaching the “essential benchmarks” of bench 1.5x body weight (375 lb), squat 2x bodyweight (500), deadlift 2.5x bodyweight (625).
  • Drop to 20% body fat. No progress. Two years in a row I’ve nor really tried hard towards this one. Probably a sign.
  • Do the White and Orange trails in under an hour. Christmas Eve Eve, I made one last shot. I made it 1 hour 5 minutes and 3 seconds.
  • Attend 12 social events when invited. I am going to count having a party as 3. And going to a movie with friends as 1/2. I hosted a party in April which is 3. I attended a  couple movies with friends in a group. And then a cocktail party, birthday party for a 20 year old cat, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, meet the baby, Thanksgiving x2, Christmas x2, and after brunch. That puts me at 16 which exceeds the goal. I feel exhausted just counting all that.

(First Quarter, First Half)

Resolution Progress 2016: Third Quarter

Here is an update on my progress for each resolution with a quarter of the year remaining. In other words, it is crunch time.

  • Read 75 books. Three Quarters is 56.25. I have read 57.
    • Hit 25,000 pages. Three Quarters is 18,750 pages and I have read 18,286 which puts me 464 behind. That is not terrible, but I slid further behind rather than make up ground.
    • Finish series already started. (25 of the 75 books.)
      • Earthsea Cycle Read books #4-5. Still need to read #4-5.
      • Ender’s Shadow Read book 5. Done.
      • The Expanse Read book #2-6, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 2.5, 3.5. Still need to read #3.5, 4-6.
      • The Magicians Read books #2-3. Done.
      • Millennium Read book 4. Done.
      • Robot Read books #0.2-0.6,1-4. Done.
      • 25 total. Three Quarters is 18.75. Read 19. So for this one, I am slightly ahead.
  • Lifting.
    • Bench 240 pounds (1RM equivalent). The actual 1RM that I did during this period was 225. That gives me 15 to go.
    • Squat 300 pounds (1RM eq). The actual 1RM that I did during this period was 285 . That gives me 15 to go.
    • Deadlift 335 pounds (1RM eq). The actual 1RM that I did during this period was 365. That exceeds the goal, so it is done.
    • After getting to these, I will shift to reaching the “essential benchmarks” of bench 1.5x body weight (360 lb), squat 2x bodyweight (480), deadlift 2.5x bodyweight (600).
  • Drop to 20% body fat. No progress.
  • Do the White and Orange trails in under an hour. Did nothing towards this during our brutal summer. I plan to get back at it this month since it will be cooler.
  • Attend 12 social events when invited. I am going to count having a party as 3. And going to a movie with friends as 1/2. I hosted a party in April which is 3. I attended a  couple movies with friends in a group. And then a cocktail party, birthday party for a 20 year old cat, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. That puts me at 9 which is perfect progress.

(First Quarter, First Half)

Resolution Progress 2016: First Half

Here is an update on my progress for each resolution at the midpoint of the year.

  • Read 75 books. Half is 37.5 and I have read 37. Not far off schedule.
    • Hit 25,000 pages. Half is 12,500 and I have read 11,860 which puts me 640 behind, which is about a whole book.
    • Finish series already started. 24 of the 75 books. 3 of the 6 are done and a good portion of others done.
      • Earthsea Cycle Read books #4-5. Still need to read #4-5.
      • Ender’s Shadow Read book 5. Done.
      • The Expanse Read book #2-6, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 2.5, 3.5. Still need to read #3.5, 4-6.
      • The Magicians Read books #2-3. Done.
      • Millennium Read book 4. Done.
      • Robot Read books #0.2-0.6,1-4. Read #0.2, 1-4. Still need to read #0.4-0.6.
      • 25 total. Half is 12.5. Read 15. So for this one, I am plenty ahead.
  • Lifting.
    • Bench 240 pounds (1RM equivalent). The most recent is 198. That gives me 42 to go. Upping it by 5 pounds every 3 weeks should work.
    • Squat 300 pounds (1RM eq). The most recent is 268. That gives me 32 to go. Upping it by 5 pounds every 4 weeks should work.
    • Deadlift 335 pounds (1RM eq). The most recent is 297. That gives me 38 to go. Upping it by 5 pounds every 3 weeks should work.
    • After getting to these, I will shift to reaching the “essential benchmarks” of bench 1.5x body weight (360 lb), squat 2x body weight (480), deadlift 2.5x body weight (600).
  • Drop to 20% body fat. No progress.
  • Do the White and Orange trails in under an hour. It is only a bit over 15 minute improvement. And my feet hurt for a week. Once I’ve dropped the weight, it should be easier to achieve. And it is too hot now, so I will try again in the fall starting in late September.
  • Attend 12 social events when invited. I am going to count having a party as 3. And going to a movie with friends as 1/2.

(First Quarter)

Resolution Progress 2016: First Quarter

 

  1. Read 75 books. I should be at 18.75 read by this point. So, 18 is pretty good.
    1. Hit 25,000 pages. I should be at 6,250 pages read, so my 6,270 is on pace.
    2. Finish series already started. I finished the Millennium series (one book) and make progress on both the Robot and Expanse series (4 + 3 books). Just 16 to go.
  2. Lifting.
    1. Bench 240 pounds (1RM equivalent). Hitting about 180.83 according to the app’s numbers. Doing a real 1 rep max in January, I hit 165. After this, I lowered the weight and am building back up, so at this point lower than the 192 calculated I was prior.
    2. Squat 300 pounds (1RM eq). Hitting about 250.83 according to the app. Doing a 1 rep max in January, I hit 245. Same as bench, I’ve caught back up to where I was at start of the year.
    3. Deadlift 335 pounds (1RM eq). Hitting about 294 according to the app. Doing a 1 rep max in January, I hit 325. Same as bench, I’ve caught back up to where I was at start of the year.
  3. Drop to 20% body fat. No progress.
  4. Do the White and Orange trails in under an hour. I did manage to bring this down to one hour 4 minutes 8 seconds. Since the weather is warmer, I will give it a few more goes to see if I can manage it. The challenge is this is a hilly area and not to lose too much pace going up. I tried running up and that was not working very well, so will do more letting gravity do its thing.
  5. Attend 12 social events when invited. I skipped one and will attend one. So par? I’m even planning to host one which ought to count for like 5.

Resolution Progress 2015: Third Quarter

OK, the year is about three quarters done, so here is where I am with each resolution.

  1. Read 52 books. Three-quarters of 52 is 39. I am close to done at 49. My Goodreads user challenge. With 5 in progress now, and 3 more than half read, this should be complete soon.
    • Read at least 50% by female authors. Of the 49 books read so far, 37 are by female authors, so I am on well above with 75%. (I’m unlikely to fall beneath 50% by even reading all male author books through the end of the year.)
  2. Weightlifting:
    1. Bench 185 pounds (1RM equivalent). My best during the past month or so is 171 1RM. That is 64 up from the 107 1RM back at the start of the year. And 20 up from three months ago. Just 14 more to go by the end of the year, I think I can do it.
    2. Squat 245 pounds (1RM eq). Completed at the half.
    3. Deadlift 300 pounds (1RM eq). My best during the past month or so is 278 1RM. Looks like since July the gain has been about 62 pounds. This looks manageable as I just need another third of that progress to hit the goal.
    4. Drop to about 15% body fat. No progress.
    5. Bring HIIT up to about 50-50. No progress.
  3. Take a trip at least 300 miles away from home. Completed first quarter.
  4. Declutter Part II. No progress.

Resolution Progress 2015: First Half

Here is where I am about halfway through the year.

  1. Read 52 books. A half of 52 is 26. I am a few books ahead at 34. My Goodreads user challenge.
    • Read at least 50% by female authors. Of the 34 books read so far, 28 are by female authors, so I am on well above with 82%.
  2. Weightlifting:
    1. Bench 185 pounds (1RM equivalent). My best during the past month or so is 157.5 1RM. That is 50.5 up from the 107 1RM back at the start of the year. Just 27.5 more to go. I was recently happy to manage two 45 lb plates on the bar 5x5s. Guess I get to be a big boy now.
    2. Squat 245 pounds (1RM eq). My best during the past month or so is 262.5 1RM. That is 155.5 up from the 107 1RM back at the start of the year. That completes the goal. Guess I will reset for another 105 pounds for 350.
    3. Deadlift 300 pounds (1RM eq). My best during the past month or so is 273.33 1RM. That is 121.67 up from the 151.66 1RM last quarter. Just 26.67 more to go.
    4. Drop to about 15% body fat. No progress.
    5. Bring HIIT up to about 50-50. No progress.
  3. Take a trip at least 300 miles away from home. Completed first quarter.
  4. Declutter Part II. No progress.

 

Resolution Progress 2015: First Quarter

I figured I would get back to doing quarterly reviews of progress on the resolutions for the year.

  1. Read 52 books. A quarter of 52 is 13 (the same as a suit in a deck of card). I am a few books ahead at 16. My Goodreads user challenge.
    • Read at least 50% by female authors. So far only 3 are by male authors, so I am on track with 81%.
  2. Weightlifting:
    1. Bench 185 pounds (1RM equivalent). My best during the past month or so is 145 1RM. That is 42 up from the 1RM back at the start of the year. Just 40 more to go.
    2. Squat 245 pounds (1RM eq). My best during the past month or so is 169 1RM. That is 62 up from the 1RM back at the start of the year. Just 76 more to go.
    3. Deadlift 300 pounds (1RM eq). Finally recently did my first deadlift and started at two 45 plates for 5 reps, which is a 151.66 1RM. Still learning form, so the weight was very manageable.  Just 149 more to go.
    4. Drop to about 15% body fat. I did buy a set of calipers with a chart which says my suprailiac is 25.6%. Since I figured 25-30%, this is about what I expected. But I have a long way to go. Visually, I can see veins and muscle definition emerging, which is encouraging.
    5. Bring HIIT up to about 50-50. No progress.
  3. Take a trip at least 300 miles away from home. I did take a 825 mile trip for Mom’s birthday over a weekend. We went to Amelia Island and Jekyll Island. That was fun.
  4. Declutter Part II. Lost some of the progress made. Some of the pants now too big for me are separated out and put away. I’ll give it some time before I donate them. Started organizing and boxing the books I’ve read.