Rippley

My favorite part of your woot.. Well done and keep up the awesome work!!

Starting Strength can be a tough read and is very technical. This might be easier to digest. It explains the Starting Strength program. The book does however contain important information on how to do the exercises properly.

Quick update: In the past 2 weeks I have not missed any training. I even did 2 HIIT-sessions this week. Rowing is not proving to be as challenging as I thought it would be so I think I will replace it with cycling when I do my HIIT in the gym. Soft drinks are pretty much history but chocolate has made it's way into my mouth a couple of times. Next week I'll have to miss a couple of trainings because I will be away for 3 days. But I'll make due. Here are some stats. Height: 1.73 m (5'8) Weight: 81 kg (178.5 lbs) Body fat percentage: 17% note* this measurement is several weeks (7-9) old. New measurements should be made soon. Performance: Squat: 120 kg (265 lbs) Ab Lateral Pull-down: 60 kg (132 lbs) Dead lift: 115 kg (253 lbs) Bench press: 70 kg (154 lbs) Dips: 4 sets of 6 reps Front Row: 70 kg (154 lbs) Standing Military Press: 50 kg (110 lbs) Pull up: 4 sets of 3 reps Fastest 5k: 33:00 min I managed to increase the weight on most of my exercises so I'm pretty stoked about that. Nutrition could be better so I'll do my best to not eat chocolate any more. Also I have been seeing the detriments of sleeping late. Too little energy in the morning.

Starting Strength is a program specifically designed for youngster who need to bulk up and get stronger for a varsity team. The book Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe (the inventor of the program) is written for coaches of high school sports teams to better guide and develop their young players. These players are usually around the age of 14, so a lot of growing still has to ensue in their lives. There is a short article which might interest you on livestrong.com. It's called 'Myths for Lifting Weights at a Young Age'. It should be easy to find. Most of the detriments and dangers of weightlifting at that age are caused by adding too much weight with improper form. As long as your kid is able to follow instructions and has someone to guide him on form he should be a-ok. He'll be a beast in no time!!

Haha recognize it completely.. That moment where you just stare at your fridge and think over all the choices that have led you to this point in your life..

Evaluation of the first week: Name apprentice: Rippley Second name: None The Guild sees that the adjustment to life in Essentia is not an easy one. In training you have shown vigor and some strength. Monday and Wednesday were training days. Friday also but you neglected to show. This concerned the Guild at first and questions of your dedication were raised. On Sunday however you resumed the practice and we also got word from the Scout Guild that you attended their training. The Guild's advice is to keep to the schedule and not sway from it. You will feel the effects of poor timing and your strength may not increase much as it potentially could. Some measurements: Height: 1.73 m (5'8) Weight: 81 kg (178.5 lbs) Body fat percentage: 17% note* this measurement is several weeks (5-7) old. New measurements should be made soon. Performance: Squat: 112.5 kg (248 lbs) Ab Lateral Pull-down: 55 kg (121 lbs) Dead lift: 100 kg (220.5 lbs) Bench press: 65 kg (143 lbs) Dips: 4 sets of 4 reps Front Row: 67.5 kg (149 lbs) Standing Military Press: 50 kg (110 lbs) Pull up: 2 times Fastest 5k: 33:00 min The Guild foresees great improvements if you train at the right times, eat the right food and get enough rest. Stay strong, apprentice. May strength guide you, The Guild of the Warrior The battle is fierce

Dear Snayll, The pleasure is entirely mine to hear of a fellow adventurer. I shall follow your journals with much interest. Knighthood is hard and rewarding. It may not be for everyone but I think it is a perfect fit for you. Eating- Maybe try making a schedule and eat at the times you set for yourself. I can't offer you much advice since eating in abundance has never been an issue for me. Maybe a fellow Adventurer who went through the same could help you or ask one of the guild leaders. They should have knowledge on increasing your apetite. Workout- Well done, my lady. You have done it and that is all that matters. With two younglings it is a great feat to find the time to train. Now hang in there and finish your week! The knights demand it! Waking up- I changed my sleeping habit because it has always been an issue for me since I was a child (used to fall asleep at 03:00/04:00 and wake up at 12:00). What helped me was to be done with training by 16:00 and be sure to be done with everything (chores, homework, dinner etc.) by 20:00. Then I'd have a full 90 minutes to just unwind and relax and be in bed by 21:30. I'd be sleeping by 22:00. After doing this for a couple of days I just got sleepy around 22:00 and went to bed. Going to bed on time is key to having a regular sleeping pattern. Reading- Good job. Interesting to see a non-financial/health related goal on here. Good luck delving into the divine studies. Especially with bodyweight routines I have noticed a LOT of muscle ache afterwards. That is to be expected. More so in the first 1-2 weeks. I love the pain however. It means progress and it feels good. This is all the advice I have to offer at the moment. Keep strong and you will succeed. Awaiting to serve, Rippley, Adventurer Subject to the: Guild of the Adventurer-Dark paths, long roads, bright hopes.

@Nicks_Scotland It has got to be the most difficult thing anyone has ever done ever.. I work at an Italian restaurant where they make nutella pistachio pie for God's sake!!! Soft drinks are easy though.. water and tea is all I need

Good luck.. Warm milky drinks are a pain in my ass as well..

Tnx for the support. I never knew how fun it is to write fantasy until now.

Sure lot of Murakami's books are a bit surrealistic. That's not necessarily for everybody but that's also why I recommend Norwegian Wood. It's one of his 'normal' works. Also his best work in my opinion.

Anyone read it? No? Go read it. It's good.

Honored Grand Maester of the Adventurer's Guild, Today I sit at my table, quill in my hand whilst writing this letter to you. I hope it finds you in good health and even better spirits. With this letter I wish to officially submit my entry into the challenge. I think it's time to go out into this world and taste some adventure. Maybe I'll find strange creatures of all sorts on my path; wargs, gnomes, fairies and maybe even a unicorn. The gods may only know what lies ahead but I'm intent on finding that knowledge as well. For my quest I will travel north to the city of kings, Essentia. I shall take my place in the warriors guild as an apprentice. There I will rigorously train with the fighters of old and new to strengthen my body. I remember much from my time spent at the local armory so I will have heed in the knowledge that I am not going an utter novice. Goal (+3 STRENGTH) Train with the Warrior Guild 3 times a week. They have agreed to let me enroll into the first round of the Starting Strength challenge. Only 1 out of 10 apprentices make it to the next round, they say. I am determined to be that one. -Train 3 times a week strength training. The warriors guild recruiter took one look at me and told me that it would do me some good to train with the Scout Guild under the Adventurer's banner (I promise to bring honor to our guild). Goal (+1 ENDURANCE) The Scout Guild's recruiter agreed to recommend me to the Birds of the Night, a great faction of the guild who train only the fastest and most experienced of the scouts. There I will participate in only a part of the novice practices. Too much would surely be the end of my life he assured me. -One High Intensity Interval Training of twenty minutes (either sprints, rowing or cycling) a week. The noblest of guilds ask nothing but curiosity from their subjects. Such is the case with the Adventurer's. Any other guild however value dexterity more than any other trait found in a man. For conviction is what makes the impossible possible, the unthinkable true and the weak strong. Those were the words the party leader of the recruiters said. Goal (+3 dexterity) Those in my region eat what is known as 'brown bricks' and drink the 'poison of the fruits'. These are known to poison a man's heart and body and cloud his mind. To show our strength of will we must abstain from these substances like it was the Forsaken One's own gift. -Cut out all chocolate and soft drinks from my diet. A wise man once said that bravery can only shown in the face of fear. If that is true than this is my chance to be brave because I have never been more afraid in my life. But fear shall never stop me on my path. It is one foe that shall always be slain. I begin my journey with hope. Hope shall soon turn to regret and regret to joy. To use your words: 'Leaves may change colour and wither away but the tree still stands. Strong and proud against the wind.' Awaiting to serve, Rippley, Adventurer Subject to the: Guild of the Adventurer-Dark paths, long roads, bright hopes.

I am really interested in joining a box but there are none near my place residence. The closest one is 35 minutes away by means of public transportation (am a student, so too broke to own car). Anybody got any suggestions on how to fix my predicament?

Yes, it has definitely something to do with the bodyweight routines. You are taking 2 different routines and doing them at the same time. This is extremely counter-productive since you are not giving your body ample time to recover. Recovery is key to gaining strength. I suggest you drop the bodyweight routines altogether since a Rippetoes routine (I'm assuming you are on a Rippetoe) is all you need in the strength department. You may not feel sore after a workout but it will weigh down on your body especially if you are starting to hit those max weights. In the strength department making those lifts should be top priority. If anything is blocking that progress it has got to go. Another thing to keep in mind is that in the beginning you'll see increases in weight every training. After the increases will be weekly, then bi-weekly/monthly. This can be quite frustrating if not anticipated and expected. 6 times cardio per week seems a lot. It will keep you back in the strength department but since just being strong isn't your goal it may not weigh as heavily. My advice there is to just listen to your body and use common sense. If you are broken and depleted of all energy in the mid week after 3 runs and 1 strength session I would seriously reconsider the amount or intensity of cardio I'm doing. Low intensity cardio has been shown to even help with recovery after strength training so maybe switch the intensity up if feeling depleted. Since I have never been able to 'lose weight' while also being serious about strength (attempt number 3 coming up next week) I will keep my mouth shut on that subject. Your diet is very important. I used to be a fatty until I dropped 66 lbs by eating 1000 calories or less a day while also exercising (football and American football) 5 times a week. It'll give you the fastest results you need up until a certain point. I reached a plateau and was stuck on that weight a long time. Rigorous starvation diets, whilst very effective at first, will only take a person so far. After that the real hard part comes. Good dieting, hard training, a lot of discipline and meticulous tracking of progress. I still get my ass kicked by these things even 2 years after I lost all that weight. That being said, make sure you feel good. Being depleted because your diet sucks is counter-productive. Make sure you have enough energy to finish whatever routine you set out to do while also progressing. This may very well be achieved at a caloric deficit. Up to you to find out. Good luck and have fun getting in shape!!