dustinthewind

Greetings all! I am now in my third week of the new me and I would like to get input on how others with my problem deal with it. What is my problem? Well, it is falling asleep. I have always been a bit of a night owl, and have never really gotten enough sleep. I have a problem "shutting off" my head at night. Since I have started working out after work it has gotten worse. I know I should probably work out in the morning, but here it is, after midnight and I know I am not going to get a good night's rest. It really is a vicious cycle. So, my fellow rebellion members, what have YOU done to become a morning person? Do I just need to pick a day, get three hours sleep, and struggle through it?

Dinner tonight will be baked lemon pepper chicken tenderloins (tossed in olive oil) and sweet potato fries seasoned with garlic, paprika, sea salt, cinnamon, and chili powder. This is looking MUCH better than yesterday's lunch

I really like creek boats if you are going to have any whitewater. They are short enough to turn well, and have a lot of buoyancy, but track a lot better than a play boat due to the extra length. They are also tough as all get out. If you are doing calm rivers and lakes where you main concern is tracking and chop, a longer boat would be a better choice.

Thanks for the comments. I realize now that I misunderstood that paleo meant no seasonings and stricter limits to cooking methods.

Hello all, I have spent the past two weeks going 70% paleo. Of the other 30% I have had 12 fried chicken wings, 1 order of fries, a personal pizza (my two "cheat days") plus one creme brulee and two servings of bread (white and pumpernickel) I have also indulged with a few beers and am trying to kick my diet coke habit. My biggest problem with going more paleo (apart from the diet coke) is I have never really liked most vegetables. I spent years joking that they are what food eats. Sometimes I eat carrots and find them very good, but the next time I buy a bag, they taste awful. Take today's lunch for example: two servings (half a bag) of Green Giant steam in bag seasoned carrots and two small fish fillets. I struggled to finish half of the carrots. The vegetables that I really like are legumes (black & green beans, peas) and corn. That last one is a grain, of course. I like broccoli when cooked right, and brusselsprouts in moderation. I really don't enjoy raw veggies like leaf/romaine lettuce, baby spinach, and raw carrots, cauliflower, etc.. unless there is some bad dressing like ranch on it. So far, it has been very tough to stick to paleo, and this is only after two weeks. Are there any suggestions anyone can make? Should I just settle for 70% paleo, is paleo not for me? Should I just go ahead and add low-carb ranch as a way to get the veggies in my system? Additional info: I am taking a multi-vitamin, B-complex, magnesium, calcium with D, potassium, and fish-oil in the morning to make sure I am getting micro-nutrients.

A stay-away goes to the Jabra BT620S headphones.

I just finished my third read through of Cold Days by Jim Butcher. Is is the 14th book in The Dresden Files; a series about Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing Wizard PI. http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/cold-days-14

OK, I think I understand what you mean by this. I only have three sessions on the rower so far, and have managed to (mostly) fix one bad habit per session. I will pencil that in for my next one. Thanks!

My rower's third drawback is the computer. It measures in strokes per minute and "distance" in increments of 1/10th mile, but all the measurements come from the seat rather than the flywheel. I rowed at 20 strokes per minute for 30 minutes and it displayed 0.6 miles so I am not sure if that is an accurate number. So for that pace you specified, what would the equivalent stroke per minute be?

In Texas I would go for a 3-season double walled tent. You have your fly for the weather, a tub, and the vast majority of the tent itself is just bug netting. If there is little chance of rain, leave the fly off for better circulation. If the lowest temp is 50*F, a hammock is doable without purchasing bottom insulation if you have the right clothes. There is a forum dedicated to hammock camping if you are interested in looking into it.

Where are you located? Local climate and "bug density" really affect what is a good choice. I used to live in Arkansas, where a bivy would only be useful in the winter/early spring--otherwise you would just be hot all the time

I am an avid backpacker, and I recommend spending the money on a good quality backpacking tent if you are not comfortable with the idea of just a groundcloth and tarp. My two recommendations are the MSR HubbaHUbba and BigAgnes Seedhouse2. That said, I am making the transition to hammock camping. Hennesey makes a pretty good all in one setup, but I use a Warbonnet Blackbird with am OES MacCat tarp. What I give up in weight compared to my Seedhouse1, I make up for in comfort and a good night's sleep. Be advised that hammocks require insulation on the bottom, not just the top.

Thanks all! That was what I was thinking, but I wanted to get some advice before plowing blindly ahead and doing something that would cause injury and thus "help" with an excuse to give up. I went with the Lifespan RW1000 because it was on the showroom floor, and it was one of the highest rated rowers at the $500 price point. The fact that it has a nice, small foot print helped a lot too. The negatives are that it does not increase difficulty with intensity and there are reports of parts wearing out after a few years. I figured even if I only get one year out of it, it is the same cost as a gym membership for a year, and it is right there in the second bedroom, so I have even less of an excuse to not work out.

Greetings Starfighters! This is only my second post here on NF and I would like some help on where to place rowing into my workout. To begin, my vital stats are: Male36 years and 11 months of age5' 10.5" 198 lbsBF% via BIA scale = 24.6%My just started (as in yesterday) strength training regiment is the Beginner Body Weight Circuit. I cannot complete it at the moment. My plan is once I AM able to complete the BBWC, continue to do so for two-three weeks. At that point I would graduate to the Scaled ABWC. Again continue to do that until I can complete it for two-three weeks, transition from the inverted rows to pullups and chinups, and then move to the full ABWC. Eventually, I would like to move to the Batman Body Weight Workout. I also have a shiny new rowing machine: magnetic resistance and five resistance settings. My question is when should I row (every day, off days), how long should I row, at what resistance, and at what intensity. Keep in mind as this is a magnetic resistance rower, intensity does not make the strokes more difficult. Sorry, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend $1200 on the Concept 2 sitting on the showroom floor. I can currently only sustain 20 strokes per minute while keeping good form. Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any advice!

Dustin here. Vital stats: Male36 years and 11 months of age5' 10.5" 198 lbsBF% via BIA scale = 24.6%Where I started: 236 lbsBF% 36.4pack-and-a-half a day smoker2 LITERS of Coke every day12-18 beers a week (we're talking that dark European stuff made by monks).Fast food for EVERY MEAL, plus lots of "snacks":Changes I have made so far, but still need improvement on: Stopped smoking cigarettes ( I still have a pipe/cigar once in a while )Switched to Coke Zero (down to 40 oz a day at that)Cut out most junk foodTrying to learn to love coffee blackFast food once or twice a weekSevere rationing of beer; 0-4 a weekChanges I am making right now. Phasing out processed foods. i.e. frozen "healthy" box dinnersNew power tower for pull-ups and dips when I am ready for them (the manufacturer is gladly sending the missing parts)New rowing machineDumbbell bench and some dumbbellsNew running shoes (I hate running, but these are supposed to be good for crossfit too)What I started doing today: RowingThe NF Beginner Body Weight Circuit (BBWC)Today's report: 15 minutes of rowing at ~40% resistance about 18-20 strokes per minute to warm up. BBWC x 2. Stretch. Guzzle 48oz water. Well, the BBWC kicked my ass. I hadn't how out-of-shape I really was until today. I thought I was reasonably fit (still remembering college fondly, I guess), but I know better now. I had to do the push-ups on my knees. MY KNEES!!! Oh, and the Lunges, I couldn't do all the reps--sixteen the first set, eight the second. By the end of the second circuit I was toast; gasping for air and all that. Sadly, no third circuit today. But that's OK. I will get better. So, what are my goals? In 18 months I want to have earned the right to say "THIS. IS. SPARTA!!!" in my bathroom mirror knowing that appearance is a consequence of fitness. I know I have to have a game plan. Like Commander Shepard, I'm not ready to fight the Reapers just yet. Like Commander Shepard, I will need allies. You, dear readers, are some of them. Co-workers are others. I will need that constant motivation. My step, by step goals are as follows Go 80% Paleo over the next few monthsComplete the BBWC in full for two weeks straight.Move to the Scaled ABWC, once I can complete it for a week, progress to the...ABWC. Increase reps or sets as neededRow X miles a month (still working on this one)Drink single malt scotch whisky instead of beer (this will be the easiest, as I already have an affinity for the MacAllan, )No Coke ZeroNo occasional cigarJanuary 2014 or before: Crossfit for 3+ months (I live in an apartment and the local crossfit place is very pricey, so I don't know If I can swing more)Scotty, MORE POWER. I would like to try parkour even though I now live in a small town in farm country.My question to you, Rebels, is how often should I row, when, how long, what resistance, and intensity? Oh, and thanks for taking time to read this.