AquaNat

Yeah, I'm doing a PhD in marine bio. I work at a marine research centre that also teaches students from around the UK and abroad. Not had chance to do much this week, but they're all leaving tomorrow, just in time for me to head home, then to a conference in Portugal. Hope everyone's doing okay xx

So this week I have been effectively useless, we've had 78 students in, so I've been run ragged and had not time to work out. But I have been on my feet all day, so that's okay. Next week I'm at a conference in Portugal. Long, sunny walks, seafood and science. I'll be in touch as much as I can!

Hey, sorry I've been quiet, we've been inundated with students again. 78 this time which means I'm taking classes of 37 at a time. EXHAUSTED! Happily I did get the extra pull up into my set, but only the first set, the next ones are always back down to the usual 3! I'm eating pretty well, but because its at work I'm eating lots. Then again. I've been burning it off on the boats and the beach. So I don't feel too bad. Back out on the boats tomorrow, video trawls to show the little treasures (okay, 19-25 year olds) the wonders of deep sea biology!

Right attitude mate! Does he work out himself and hate seeing other folk get ahead? or is he just jealous that you have new goals and a support network of random (though epic) complete strangers?! I'm supposed to be in Portugal at a conference next week, I'm gonna roast!

Don't worry, no offense taken. I'm getting quite proud of the girl-guns!

STRENGTH UPDATE! Great news everyone, today I have blasted through one of my challenge goals, and added a whole 5 kilos to my bench press! Its now at 38kg including the bar, which is over half my weight. I just have to work at getting my reps up to 8 per set to really seal the deal! Now, to finish that awesome work day I'm supposed to be having.....

I love this post, its all so positive! And that's great on your pull-up challenge progress. I'm getting there myself! I'm leaving my walking boots on when I get in and trying to do a few sets, just to have a bit of extra weight!

I ate well, I had an awesome time at karate and I did a lot of my work. Even went for a get to know you gin and tonic with the students that are going to be here for the next 5 months. All in all it was a good day. Todays goals are - have an awesome work day, get to the gym at lunch for a leg session, run 5 k, and only have 2 drinks this evening at Adams birthday pub crawl.

I mangaed to catch the sun the other day too. I was our doing plastic surveying on Ailsa Craig ( http://naturalistblonde.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/granite-and-gannets-naturalist-blonde.html ), a tiny uninhabited island in the Clyde Sea. Horrible, evil wind and waves in the morning, then BOOM! searing heat. Damn my fair skin, I looked like a tomato by the end.

Today all I want to do is eat well, do my work, and not suck at karate. 3 goals. I'll check in with my progress later!

That's great! You'll end up doing your race before mine, you can give me the lowdown! And the fact you have someone to run with is awesome. Not sure if my training buddy is actually going to sign up as his paramedic training is pretty intense right now; but he's done stuff like Tough Mudder in the past and I know he'd be in great shape for it.

Awful, awful awful day. Even though I packed a lunch I didn't have time to eat. Driving in the glaring sun meant I have a massive migraine and no energy to work out. tucked up on the sofa watch Castle. night all.

Yay for clean up (and sod if the better half is happy, are YOU happy that it looks cleaner?)! Go you for getting in the extra work out, even if you didn't get outside that much, its a net win exercise-wise.

I sometimes use a low cal ceasar if I'm feeling in the need of it, but most of the time I whip up a little pesto (with no cheese and only a little oil) just to give a little depth of flavour. And my lunge weight might be higher than your's, but your measurements are closer to where I want to be! Swings and roundabouts. I find the hardest thing about doing lunges with higher weight was just holding the things when I started! So I built up my arms and grip first and went from there.

WHY have I not thought of using ankle weights for my pull ups before!? That's happening for the rest of the week!

My god, week 2 already! Well I started with a great weights session today, I've been building up my legs more by increasing my sets of walking lunges (with 2 16kg weights) and leg presses (with 70Kg plus what ever the bar weighs); hopefully I'll be able to put another couple of kilos on the squat by the end of this week. My meals have been super healthy: Banana with soy yoghurt, flax seeds and agave nectar for breakfast; olives, chicken and chorizo for lunch; and a tasty spinach and pine nut salad topped with poached eggs for dinner. Unfortunately I also had 2 slices of cake and a couple of biscuits, but I'm still only at around 1500 cals for the day. I've cooked myself some chicken for tomorrow as I'm on the road to Glasgow to pick up my conference poster, then Edinburgh for an RYA commitee meeting; I'll have to avoid the temptation of board room biscuits... At least I have a run scheduled in the evening. Wish me luck people!

That does sound like a legendary salad. I'm needing some motivation on the running front myself. Its just so windy here, not fun to run in. I'm still doing my sprints, but my longer runs have fallen away.

I'm so glad our thread is filling up with people! Woot for more Spartan racers too! Intervals are a great idea to get your body used to switching between run/obstacle mode. I'm also adding in resistance to my cardio workouts so I can power through each obstacle, and adding some plyometric moves to my warm up and work out. I find the same difference in pull up grips. I can do 3 pull -ups palms to me, and only 2 palms out.

I'm not making amazing progress either, but I don't need to wait as long between sets, so I'm considering that a sign that my muscles aren't as fatigued as they were.

Feeling pretty smug today, went volunteering at the reserve - a MAJOR chocolate temptation zone - and I only had one teeny piece. Plus I got a great workout this morning, and ate really well overall - about 1300 cals. Trying to talk myself back into going to work for a while this evening, but just can't build up the energy.... oh well, I'll start early tomorrow.

Okay, gloves, thatnks for the tip. I don't usually wear gloves, and hopefully those lifting calluses will help!

Lol, you're the third person I've had to clarify the word biscuit with! Yep, cookies! Luckily its finally starting to look like spring here in the UK, first swallow spotted on my run this AM

Unfortunately, I have nowhere I can test myself on that one; I'm on a little island. Perhaps I could ask one of the boats crew to set one up for me from the pier (I could practice at low tide).

Its the Spartan sprint that I'm signed up for. My old gym buddy is possibly doing it as well, although I've told him to sign up for a different heat, so we'll be able to support each other, but he won't have to slow his pace down for me.... I'm nice like that... My pull up bar is in the door to my living room (the joys of living alone), so I'm doing a set every time I go through the door, hopefully it'll keep me in check!