Torch

Wow, yeah, a whole bunch of them since I last checked. Thanks for the reminder

I've had a big change in my reading habits a few years ago, going from mostly fiction to mostly non-fiction. These days I mostly read fiction on planes when I travel, and when I notice that a new book in a series I like came out (usually 6 months after the fact ). The only problem I run into with it is that I don't like reading non-fiction on e-readers, so storage space for books becomes an issue.

That's really cool I quite enjoyed the Sandman Slim series, might be time for a re-read.

Attended a seminar and a few classes some time ago, was really enjoyable. Good luck with it

Thanks, really nice article with good information

Agree with the above advice to go and watch a class, and try free ones (most places will offer one). Also two key things to consider: 1) What are your training goals and does the training at a particular school fit those goals? You can do martial arts for a whole range of valid reasons, just make sure your personal goals match up with what's being offered. Do some research beforehand, talk to the instructor and to a certain extent go with your gut feeling. One good indicator of quality - usually - is if the instructor is honest and upfront about what the training is NOT suitable for. 2) Pick a place you are likely to go to regularly. Consider atmosphere, location, fun etc.. If you're not going to enjoy it there, times don't work well for you or it's such a pain to get to that you're not going to go, it's pointless. Far better to train at a decent school you go to than be signed up at the "perfect" school but never attend.

I get this, I have cravings irregularly for various unhealthy snack type foods as well. Only two things I found that really help is 1) Sticking it out and/or 2) Pre-prepping healthy stuff that will satisfy them. I find that if the choice is between getting the snack or making something similar but healthy from scratch those snacks look better than all that effort. Specifically for potato chip cravings, small portion of home-made starchy carbs (e.g sweet potato fries) with Feta/Haloumi cheese or bacon do it for me, along with good sized salad. If you're avoiding dairy might have to be something else.

Ok, so I kinda suck at updating this thing. My bad. Final day update. Week 2 went well. Meditation, food and workouts all on point. Bonus objective failed though. Weeks 3 & 4 there was an issue. Death in the family (wife's family), abroad as well, so short notice major change of travel plans. Past the middle of week 3 I dropped the food part of the challenge as we were staying with others (good thing, eastern europe = lots of salads anyway). Missed most of the workouts as well. We finished the trip and all the associated family stuff two days ago. Stuff happens, but I'm not thrilled I didn't adapt to circumstances better. Only positive is that since the end of the trip I've been back doing everything as planned. Overall the challenge was a fail though. Will do better next time.

Thanks, it's good to be back Week 1 report: General: We good, two disruptions due to day trips, one expected one not. Goal 1) Followed the workout schedule. Minor hiccup on Friday, went on an extended day trip with my wife and ended up coming back so late and tired workout was not feasible. Did it on Saturday morning instead. Also been good with utilising the active recovery days, worked on physio for the bad knee and other minor issues. Wobble board etc. Goal 2) The day trips messed this up a bit, as we ate out for lunch both those days. Had good, balanced salads every day while at home and went for healthier options when eating out, so success-ish. Goal 3) This turned out the most difficult to make time for. Managed to do the meditation twice, which is less than planned. Might sneak in another one before bed tonight. Bonus Goal 4) Nope

Alright, it's been six months or so since I've done one of these, time to get back into the swing of things. Lots of stuff has happened in the meantime, and plans for the near future have solidified at last. Since I find myself with time on my hands without constant travel (finally), this is it for getting back to regular workout schedules and improving nutrition. Some parameters for this challenge: - I'm in the process of starting a business, so it has to fit around that. - There will be a change of location right in the middle of it, so it has to work for both places - Has to focus on getting used to doing stuff on a regular schedule Therefore, what I will be doing: 1) Start the Gold Medal Bodies "Integral Strength" programm and follow the schedule exactly 2) Use a salad guide my wife put together (based on Precision Nutrition) and have tasty and balanced salads for lunch on weekdays. With side carbs on workout days, without on recovery days. 3) Meditate for one about 30 min session 3 times per week. I have a guided meditation thing for it, goal is in the first week all three sessions will use it, second week 2, third week 1, and in the final week I will do all sessions without it. 4) (BONUS) First two weeks make it to a nearby mma gym for training once per week. Second half I'm back at my dojo and teaching twice a week, so no extra training required.

Awesome, similar goals high five! Sure, steal ahead For myself, if I set a "work volume per day" goal, it seems to work much better than "I will achieve outcome X". The four hours aren't a starting point, I've been consistently doing 3-5 for a while now (from the last two challenges). I'm also not in full time employment at the moment, which makes it easier. Workout routine is vague right now. Mornings is the GMB Elements program (animal walks and related exercises) plus some martial arts exercises, i.e specific resilience conditioning, breakfall practice and internal conditioning. Afternoon is squats, hip hinges and pushups. Nothing fancy (I may pick something more specific from next week, atm I'm just trying to get used to moving in the afternoon as well). Evening is holds (planks etc.) and more martial arts stuff - and this only on days when I'm not at the dojo or have other evening plans. Totally! I did the whole thing last year, and the results especially for mobility and body control were really great! I'd absolutely recommend it, it's more than worth the price Week one can be summed up in one sentence: Jetlag kicked my ass! (Until today, yesterday was total "be a fungus" day, now I'm back!) Morning mobility workouts have been great. Afternoon and evening very light and inconsistent. Body is not back to 100% after the recent seminar spree, but getting better For recovery I've focused on getting the sleep fixed despite the messed up internal clock. Got my 8h the last two nights, yay Nutrition tracking is a go. Getting the Meditation on track is next. The productivity hasn't been there the last few days, so I've focused on consolidating stuff from the seminars. My Aikido classes this week can probably be summed up with "how to confuse your students by teaching them alternative versions of stuff they already know" Today is totally on track for 4h, and I've got my 1h of output done, so happy about that

My last few weeks were intense, extended training trip. Will be home in a few hours. Noticed I've been letting a few things slide, so this challenge will be about reclaiming my balance. To that end: Task 1: Workouts This is the big one I've been neglecting. After getting great advice on the trip, what I'll be doing are three things (to be introduced gradually). Mobility work in the mornings, going through the GMB Elements program again. Bodyweight workout in the afternoon, focusing on legs and hips to increase resilience in my bad knee. Extra play in the evenings. The morning sessions will be used to determine how well recovered I am, and determine the intensity of the days activities. Task 2: Recovery In line with the above, average 8h sleep (he types at the airport having slept 2h...). Track nutrition (loosely). Not a focus but good to keep an eye on. Meditation is another one I've been slipping on a it, so daily habit, min 10 min, will try to build up to more but focus on consistency. Will get some support on this from my social circle. Task 3: Growth The previous challenges the "spend X hours on projects" has worked fantastically, and I'll keep it up with min 4h per weekday (It's almost habitual enough that I can drop it off the challenges at this point). One twist: At least one hour has to be pure output. No research, planning, structuring, learning, networking, selling etc. but instead making something. Every day. Also need to consolidate the stuff I picked up at the various seminars in the last month, I'll probably end up integrating exercises into the movement play to lock it in. I feel like I'm forgetting something, but at this point my sleep deprived brain no work so good...

Update: Have arrived in 'Murica. Lucked out with the weather and spent a few days doing vacation stuff and enjoying the autumn colours. Now Seminar 4 (I think? loosing count here) has started. Lots of fun. Would be better if I hadn't dropped someone on my bad knee last week... Final stretch of the challenge is exactly as before. Meditation is pretty much not happening. I'm doing some mobility work but not as consistently as I should. The nutrition portion is done, while I'm in the land of the hamburger I plan on enjoying myself and eating what I like (mostly burgers, the burgers here are sooo good!) The productivity stuff has been going great, really happy with that part. Same with the seminar prep & debrief. I'll call is a 50% success (glass half full?). See how the next few days go.

So when I said "some training", what I meant was "attend a friend's submission grappling class". According to another friend, I need to work on my definition of "rest day" Bit beat but recovering well. Teaching today so will be able to take it easy. Challenge is going like before. Nutrition pretty good, productivity great, learning from the seminars fantastic, mobility so-so (though helping immensely with recovery) and meditation inconsistent -__- .

Had to pull a brake line on Sunday. I got invited to yet another seminar, which I attended for 4 h of training on Saturday. Then drove back just in time to be uke for a few gradings, including one black belt one( Already uke'd for one black belt grading last Wednesday, too). Then had a wee bit too much to drink at the grading party. The results was that I was an onion of pain on Sunday (Layer one: Hangover; Layer two: Joints; Layer three: Muscles; Layer 4 (in progress): Back; Layer 5: We'll see ). Decided to not attend the second day of that extra seminar. Spent the last two days resting instead. Going to try some training today. Graphic reminder that I'm not 18 any more...