walterc

I see there hasn't been much Montana activity here recently - I'm hoping to get some going again! I'm in the Great Falls area, but defiantly willing and able to hit different areas in the state.

My gym is fairly limited. There are a few machines which I avoid, dumbells in increments of 5kilo and a Smith machine. This is why I've been doing the dumbell routine. It consists of different push ups, pull ups, squats, bent over row, 1arm push press, 1 arm swing, lunges, dead lift, clean and press. Not all on the same day of course. I've definitely gotten stronger, and I do it in a circuit fashion so it helps with cardio as well. Day 1 is 11 exercises of 3 reps, day 2 is 6 with 3 reps and day 3 is 10 with 3 reps.

Well I've been doing the level 2 dumbell routine for about 4 months now. I think I've gotten some good results, and I was enjoying.....until this week. The last two days I just can't get motivated to do it. No problem getting to the gym, but I've lost desire to go through them same routine I've done over and over. I need a change! I'm a complete newbie to lifting, so I'm not really sure what to do. Any suggestions? My current plan is level 2 dumbell routine with a cardio day between each. I mix my cardiovascular up with running, swimming and racquetball. No issues with the cardio portion, enough variation to keep me interested. Just bored with the lifting. In fact this morning I had so little motivation to lift I ended up running again. Help! Thank you!!

2-6 Went for a run today, and it was pretty bad. First two miles were OK, but the second 2 I just couldn't keep it up. Slowed way down, walked some. Normally I do fairly decent when I run, I'm not fast but I keep going with no stops at a fairly constant pace. No idea why today was crappy, hoping it was just an off day. Anywho, hope next time is better. Had bread again for dinner...thats 3. NO more for this week. 2-7 Good lifting day. Started out with a headache so I thought it would end up being another crap day, but actually turned out well. Made it through almost every set with the increased weight - will be glad tomorrow is my off day. Again, no bread is authorized today. At all. I'll do a complete week 2 roll up tomorrow.

I've attended a few different classes, and my best advice is to go speak with the instructor and ask if you can watch a class. If you like what you see, try the free class. Every instructor runs their school differently, and you might not be comforatable with some of them. I enjoy a more relaxed school, while some like a very strict one. Its all about you - as with everything if you don't think you will enjoy it, you probably won't. While you're watching or doing your first class, don't worry about things that you can't do or don't think you can do. How long did it take you to learn to swim or ride a bike? I'm in no way a master or probably even very good, but if you'd like some advice let me know!

2-4 Had to do a just job on my lifting routine. Got through everything except the 3rd set on 4 lifts. And I had to drop the weight for the 3rd set I did get though, just so I could get it done. I don't like those days, but it is better than nothing! Did have bread with dinner - grilled chicken on a bun. Could have gone without the bun, but didn't eat right all day and was starving. Meh. 2-5 Played racquetball again today - had 4 people show up. We had 2 courts and did a rotation thing so everyone got to play against everyone. Pretty fun. Really no idea why the closed it. This is Kuwait, and there is a lot of funk in the air. Could be they just got tired of cleaning all the sand out of it!

2-2 Leg lifting day went OK. Not my favorite workout, but thanks to my partner I got through it. I did complete 5 clean chin ups, so making progress there. No bread again - great! 2-3 Tried to go swimming this moring, but ran into a sign that said "Pool closed for health reasons". What kind of BS is that? The whole reason I was going to the pool was for health, and they closed it for that! Ended up playing racquetball for an hour. Better than nothing!

First week went pretty well. I know where I need to push more and where I'm on track at. Did a little recap above. 2-1 This was my off day. I know, strange to start the week with an off day, but thats where it fits in my routine. Trying to accomodate so others can join me, and taking Monday off is the best way for me. I did eat bread....our boss from the states flew in and we went out for pizza with him. But I had a super thing crust one, so it wasn't a huge amount of bread.

Nice to be here!! The difference, as I know it, is basically which way your palms are facing. They work some of the same, and some different muscles. I think the chin ups use more bicep and pull ups use more lat or back, but not positive. I do one or the other with each work out, never both in the same day. I do as many as I can with good form, then switch to either assisted ups (using a bench or chair) or controlled downs, depending on where I'm at. Not really sure which is "better" though. I think at week 3 I will take two days (seperated by a day or two) and see how many I can REALLY do. One reason I can't do more is because I know I've got a whole workout in front of me and don't want to use up the tank. Or maybe I've convinced myself mentally that 3/4 is the limit.

1-6 Ran 5ish miles, spent 5 hours painting my new apartment and had pizza for dinner. Pretty good day even with the pizza. Also weight in at 195.2, and although not part of my challenge thats about 1.5lbs than last week. Oh, and for those that haven't painted a room before, it totally counts as a workout. 1-7 Great lifting session this morining. Even being sore from the run and painting I was albe to push harder than my previous session with this routine. I will have zero bread today. Even though I could. But I won't. Week 1 recap - Goal 1 - Destroyed. I had to work 13 days straight and that threw my exercise routines off a bit....so I accidently did 7 days of exercises. WIll make sure to get a rest day in. Goal 2 - progress I think. WIll have to sit down and do some math to see how much I made. Goal 3 - Day 7 I managed 3 pull ups, but haven't been able to raise my chin ups. Work harder!!! Life Goal 1 - 2 meals with bread, met this goal. Life Goal 2 - I've gotten someone to work out with my every day, so I'm counting it as a success.

1-4 Upped my lifting weight this morning, got though my first 2 sets with the additional weight, but had to drop back down on the 3rd set. Still stuck on 4 chin ups. Really need to push harder on this one I think. Almost gave in to the pizza monster, but found some eggs and had them for dinner instead. 1-5 Played racquetball with a friend this morning. He is big into lifting and thought it would be a cake walk. 15 minutes into it he was dying. He enjoyed it, and think I've got another recruit. Successfully avoided bread!

1-1 Completed the first day, meeting my goals. Ran, ate no bread, and recruited a couple-days-a-week partner. 1-2 Second day is off to a good start. Completed my most hated routine going up in weight on one lift. Couldn't squeez another proper chin up, so I'm still stuck at 4. No bread as of 0930 and plan to keep it that way. And I got my partner to do 2 sets of 3 chin ups with a bit of minor assistance. Finished my second day with no bread. 1-3 Great swim this morning. I know how to swim, but have never done it as an exercise before. Swam about 750 meters and will push it up a bit next time. Great fun though - would recommend it to anyone who wants to mix up their cardio a bit. Had bread with dinner, 2 more bread meals left this week. Gah. 1-4 Upped my lifting weight this morning, got though my first 2 sets with the additional weight, but had to drop back down on the 3rd set. Still stuck on 4 chin ups. Really need to push harder on this one I think.

First day off to a good start, 4ish miles in 45:31. I say ish as I've measured my route with my car at about 3.75 miles and with a running app at 4.5 miles. Will do - probably too late to change it now though. I invited 3 people to come swim this week, one taker so far. No one wanted to run, something about 0330 being too early. But swimming at that time is fine. So strange. For me its not cravings - its just easy. Bread is always there, at the house, at the chow hall, people bring it in the office. I'll just have to find other easy things to distract me from it. Thanks for the support guys!!

This will be my first challenge. I've been following NF for a few months now, but didn't educate myself on the challenges until recently. Sounds great, and I'm in! I'm trying to keep my goals fairly simple and achievalbe, as if I flop on the first challenge it would probably be harder to get into the next one. And I have dreams of getting involved with every one! Fitness Goals: 1. Strive for 6, but work out no less than 5 times a week. MUST be 3 lifting days and 2-3 cardio (run, swim, or racquetball). The only deviation I will allow myself is if I get less than 5 hours sleep due to work. But if I miss a day because of that, do at least 25 minutes of exercise in the office. Pretty sure my boss won't mind. 2. Go up in weight on every lift exercise in my routine. This will be challenging because the gym I use is in kilo, and the weight jumps 5kilo (about 11lbs). 3. Get 6 pull ups and 8 chin ups. I'm at 2.5 / 4 now, so not an insane goal I don't think. Life Goals: 1. Reduce bread to no more than 3 meals per week for the first 3 weeks, and drop to 2 for the second 3 weeks. I have bread with 5-6 meals per week now. 2. Encourage friends to join me, start working out, or keep up with what they are doing. Again, this is my first challenge. If this is a little too crazy or not crazy enough I'd love to hear it!

I'm not a sweet junkie - mine is fried foods. What I did to get off this kick is to eat what I normally eat for about 2 weeks and record EVERYTHING that I was eating. It was actually hard to eat like I usually do when I was recording it and I noticed at the end of the 2 weeks I was eating less junk. I took it week by week after that, each week starting with "Ok, I can have 5 meals this week with fried food", reducing a bit every week. After 2 months or so I'm almost free of the fried food demon. This worked for me! Remember, this has to be a life style change, not a 6 month change. Who cares if it takes 6 months to get your diet where you want it - just keep working on it!